Delmas– On Tuesday, 12 August, the Office of the Executive Mayor of the Victor Khanye Local Municipality (VKLM) confirmed that the once-nonfunctional plant is now fully operational, pumping 2,5 megalitres of clean water per day.
“We are not just fixing infrastructure; we are building a foundation for a prosperous and healthy future,” mayor Vusi Buda said during an oversight visit.
The municipality has hailed the restoration of its water treatment plant as a “historic moment” for service delivery but for many Delmas residents, the celebration is tempered by the reality that their taps remain dry.
The project, delivered in partnership with the Nkangala District Municipality and Exxaro Mine, included the integration of three boreholes, designed to provide a sustainable raw water source.
Mayor Buda described the achievement as a victory for the community, particularly for Botleng Extensions 3 to 7, which have faced years of unstable water supply.
The mayor urged the community to use water sparingly and report any acts of vandalism to municipal infrastructure. “Together, we can protect these vital resources and build a prosperous society for generations to come,” he said.
Municipal Manager Thabo Mashabela added that the upgrades marked the fulfilment of a long standing promise to deliver consistent water to residents.
Despite the optimistic tone of the municipality’s announcement, large sections of Delmas including parts of Extensions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 report ongoing shortages. In some areas, water flows for a few hours a day, while others have endured days without supply.
Residents point to a pattern of water rationing that has persisted even after the plant came online.
“We hear about the plant being fixed, but our taps are still dry most of the time,” said Jabulile Mabena of Extension 5. “We rely on neighbours with boreholes or have to collect from tankers. It’s not the change we were promised.”
“The water comes at odd hours sometimes in the middle of the night,” said Nondumiso Mthembu from Extension 4. “If you miss that window, you’re stuck for the whole day.”
The municipality says more boreholes are being connected to the system and that further upgrades are planned to expand the reach and stability of the supply. However, the current situation highlights a gap between restoring infrastructure and ensuring that water reliably reaches every household.
For now, residents remain cautiously hopeful but with buckets still lined up at communal taps, many say they will believe in the “historic moment” only when water runs freely and predictably in their homes.
