The community joined DA councillors on October 28 when they stood next to the road in Trichardt and Secunda with posters to protest the ongoing water problems. They marched in Bethal on October 25.
The DA wanted to express their concerns about the water crisis in the Govan Mbeki municipal region, which has left Bethal residents without water for six weeks.
Most parts of Secunda have water again. However, people on the elevated parts of Secunda sometimes only have water for two to three hours daily.
Fiona Pelman, DA councillor, said after weeks of sustained pressure from the DA with letters, statements and engagements with the South African Human Rights Commission, the municipality can now allocate R30m to implement crucial projects to address the water problem.
“After years of continuous advocacy that called for the refurbishment of the reservoir in Ext 22 in Secunda, the upgrading of pump stations, cleaning of various reservoirs, and the drilling of municipal boreholes, this money marks a significant step forward,” said Pelman.
“With these projects now being prioritised, it brings hope to our community, which has suffered for a long time from inadequate access to water.”
The DA urged the municipality to disclose the plans and timelines for all these initiatives within the next two weeks because they are concerned that these projects might face delays or become redundant.
“Transparency is essential to ensure accountability and to keep the community informed about progress.”
According to Pelman, the DA has also requested bi-daily updates on the status of water pumping from Rand Water.
“This consistent communication is vital to keeping residents informed and reassured during this challenging time.
“While the allocation of this money and the prioritisation of these projects represents a small, but necessary victory for Govan Mbeki Municipality, the DA believes more proactive measures should have been taken.
“If we were in a decision-making position, we would not have allowed this situation to persist for so long.
“The path to the 2026 elections is crucial. It is our responsibility to ensure that these issues are addressed effectively and efficiently for the benefit of our community.”
Donald Green, spokesperson of Govan Mbeki Municipality, confirmed the municipality allocated R30m for projects to improve the water problems in the area.
