DELMAS – With heavy reliance on Rand Water, the Victor Khanye Local Municipality (VKLM) has been brought to its knees by a severe water crisis that has seen taps run dry for days. Rand Water initially announced a 72-hour maintenance plan, which began on Friday, July 26, and was expected to end early Monday morning. The scheduled three-day maintenance spiralled into a full-blown crisis, exposing the need for alternate water sources. The crisis not only affected the Victor Khanye municipality but also nearby towns in Gauteng and even the capital city, Pretoria.
According to the water supply utility, unforeseen system leakages prevented the municipality from resuming the water supply as planned, leaving residents without water for days. While pumping resumed at Rand Water’s Mapleton Pump Station on Tuesday, July 30, relief was limited to a few areas outside Delmas.
The impact on the community has been devastating. Schools were forced to close their doors as basic sanitation became impossible. Laerskool Delmas Primary, among others, made the difficult decision to suspend classes on Wednesday, July 31, citing the ongoing water crisis.
In a show of solidarity, NG Kerk Delmas West immediately opened its doors to provide free water to residents, seeing the crisis that was unfolding. Water bowsers from Schoeman Group were also seen by Highveld Chronicle deployed at Shayamoya, assisting those in dire need. The Delmas First organisation also made a call to residents and businesses in a position to assist, and many responded by availing water tankers and using their own bakkies to help minimise the impact.
Residents have described the situation as dire, with many resorting to desperate measures to secure water for their families. Businesses have been forced to temporarily shut down, and the overall economic impact is yet to be determined.
However, these temporary measures have not alleviated the community’s suffering. Residents like Mahla Vilakazi and Laetitia Conradie have expressed frustration and anger at the municipality’s handling of the crisis.
“My children and I have been walking all over with 20-litre buckets, as you see, to increase our chances of getting water to use in our home. We do not have water to cook, and the toilets are a mess,” Vilakazi told the publication near Botleng ShopRite Complex on their way to Mafa Max.
Conradie shared similar sentiments about the challenges in securing enough water and also said, “Old Rand Water infrastructure needs an overhaul; most of these pipes are not fit for the task. This crisis is also exposing the municipality’s preparedness for such events.”
In a public notice by VKLM Manager, Thabo Mashabela, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, the municipality acknowledged the difficulties residents were currently experiencing.
Mashabela, in the notice, highlighted that Mr Mayet from Mayet Cars in Westridge Estate was giving free water between 07:30 and 19:00, Mafa Max Motloung Secondary between 12:00 and 13:00 and 15:00 and 16:00, Delmas Laer Skool from 14:00 to 17:00, and Delmas Hoërskool from 07:00.
“The municipality is pleading with residents, especially in low-lying areas, to use water carefully once it is back to help the system recover faster. All unnecessary activities like car washes, filling of pools, and irrigation of gardens must cease for at least three days to allow for system recovery,” the municipal manager stated. With this wake-up call, it remains to be seen if the municipality will now act on its plan to install boreholes to supplement the local water supply, which has seen many challenges through Rand Water and also the 20% reduction due to failure to make payment towards the nearly R400 million debt to the water supply utility. The municipality’s first attempt at installing boreholes failed due to theft and vandalism.
