AfriForum handed in an application on February 27, according to the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) 2 of 2000, to the Govan Mbeki Municipality. With this application, AfriForum seeks information on the terms and conditions of the water supply agreement between the municipality and Rand Water.

“This application is aimed at determining the constitutionality of an obvious new supply model,” said Hennie Bekker, AfriForum’s district coordinator for the Highveld.

He referred to the municipality’s recent council meeting, where it was discovered that Rand Water, in a questionable agreement, only supplies the municipality with 2.4 mega litres daily.

“If we assume that a resident uses 25 litres daily, the delivered 2.5 mega litres from Rand Water only meets less than a quarter of residents’ needs of about 10 mega litres daily,” said Bekker.

He reckons the PAIA application is necessary for transparency from the municipality and to keep them accountable for the ongoing water problems in the area. Taps running dry are nothing new to residents in the Highveld area, and specifically, Bethal residents were without water for more than 50 days.

AfriForum worked with local farmers and provided water to schools and the two old-age homes in Bethal. Since the beginning of this year, AfriForum and the farmers have already provided more than 400 000 litres of water to Bethal residents.

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In 2024, water shortages in Bethal reached a peak, and AfriForum and farmers then provided more than 2.5 million litres of water at no charge to Bethal residents. Bekker believes the municipality is not transparent about the reasons for all the water shortages.

“This caused residents to not trust the municipality’s capabilities to manage the water problem,” said Bekker.

The municipality blames Rand Water for the water shortages and stated in a press release that Rand Water is providing less water due to high water use in Gauteng, where there were also significant water problems recently.

“They also said electricity problems or the maintenance of the water infrastructure obstruct water provision. The municipality fails to admit their part of the problem because of poor management, a failing infrastructure and alleged malicious agreements with Rand Water.

“The reasons they give for the water problems are questionable, especially because the water crisis that started in 2024 basically disappeared last year and is now starting again.”

Bekker warned that the municipality is putting a veil of secrecy over the real reasons for the renewed water problems in the area.

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“If the municipality, for one or other reason, receives too little water from Rand Water, it must be confirmed. It is unacceptable that residents are now forced to get along with the daily minimum prescribed quantity of water.

“It appears as if councillors are misleading the community about the supply model, according to the agreement between the municipality and Rand Water. We hope with this PAIA application that we will be able to see what is really going on.

“The Govan Mbeki Municipality really sees the availability of water like the widow of the Bible’s jar – they know there is not enough water, but they believe a miracle will occur and that all the residents will have water.”

The High Court in Pretoria ruled in AfriForum’s favour in 2023 that Rand Water is not allowed to reduce water pressure to Govan Mbeki Municipality, Victor Khanye Municipality and Emfuleni Local Municipality.

“These measures were applied by Rand Water because of these municipalities’ high levels of debt to Rand Water.

“Because it is unlawful for Rand Water to cut off water supply completely, they could not use this extreme measure, but in effect that was what it boiled down to when they reduced water pressure to several municipalities.”

In the meantime, residents saw water pressure dropping again since Monday, while in other areas water has been on and off.