Govan Mbeki Municipality prepares for Rand Water shutdown with borehole drilling, tanker deployment
Each borehole will be fitted with a 10,000-litre water tank and pumps to ensure accessibility for the community.
The Govan Mbeki Municipality Executive Mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma, announced a series of contingency measures to ensure continued water supply during Rand Water’s planned infrastructure maintenance shutdown.
The shutdown, scheduled from May 29 to June 2, will see Rand Water halt its pumping operations for 107 hours, impacting the municipality’s water supply.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the municipal auditorium on May 22, Mayor Zuma outlined the municipality’s emergency response, which includes drilling seven boreholes and deploying water tankers across affected areas.
“As a municipality, we have put in place contingency plans to provide relief to our communities,” said Zuma.
“We will be deploying water tankers based on community needs and have engaged with large businesses such as Sasol, which has committed to assisting by allowing our trucks to collect water from their reservoirs.”
The seven boreholes are being drilled as part of the municipality’s council intervention program. The first borehole has already been completed at the Secunda Municipal Offices. Zuma stated that the borehole is now in the process of being equipped to supply residents with water.
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Additional boreholes will be established at the following locations:
- Leandra Fire Station
- eMbalenhle Municipal Technical Yard
- Trichardt Licensing Offices
- Charl Cilliers Multipurpose Centre
- Evander Fire Station
- eMzinoni Fire Station
Each borehole will be fitted with a 10,000-litre water tank and pumps to ensure accessibility for the community. Zuma issued a public warning regarding water quality during the shutdown.
“This is an emergency intervention, and we cannot guarantee the quality of water delivered via tankers. Since this water will be sourced from various municipalities and private entities rather than Rand Water, which conducts regular quality testing, we urge residents to boil the water before consumption.
In a further call for solidarity, Zuma appealed to local farmers and private borehole owners to assist by making their water sources available to the community.
“These collective efforts are essential to help us navigate this difficult period,” he concluded.
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