WINBURG – The communities of Winburg and Makeleketla are facing an imminent “Day Zero” scenario, with local water reserves critically low following months of municipal neglect and infrastructure vandalism.
The Democratic Alliance in Masilonyana will escalate this matter to the South African Human Rights Commission and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA).
“I have issued an urgent warning that the municipality must act immediately to prevent a humanitarian disaster. The crisis stems from simultaneous failures at the town’s two primary water sources: the Wolwas Dam and the Rietfontein Dam,” states Councillor Brunhilde Rossouw, DA councillor for Masilonyana Municipality.
Winburg is now almost entirely reliant on the Wolwas Dam. However, the dam’s levels are critically low, estimated at just 10%, due to a mechanical failure that has remained unaddressed for over eight months.
The pump that transfers water into the Wolwas Dam was vandalised in May 2025 and remains unrepaired. This pump is vital because the Wolwas Dam is not situated in a natural catchment area; it relies entirely on this mechanism to collect water from a nearby rivulet that flows only during the rainy season. Without it, the dam cannot refill, even during rainfall.
Contamination crisis at alternative source
Compounding the crisis, the Rietfontein Dam, Winburg’s alternative water source, is currently unusable. The facility is contaminated with sewage and poses a severe health risk. The South African Human Rights Commission has flagged the poor water quality, ruling it unfit for human consumption.
The dam contains only two metres of contaminated water, with the remainder consisting of sludge. Urgent sludge removal and immediate cessation of sewage inflow are required to prevent further public health risks.
The DA has repeatedly sounded the alarm about the broken Wolwas pump, warning that Winburg risks total water loss. Last week, photographic and video evidence of the empty dam was presented at an Executive Committee meeting. The Director of Infrastructure acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and promised urgent repairs to resume pumping operations.
Despite these assurances, concern remains high due to a history of ignored requests. The municipality has consistently failed to act on previous warnings.
Urgent Intervention required
“We cannot afford another day of delay. ‘Day Zero’ is at Winburg’s doorstep, and thousands of residents will be left without water,” Rossouw warned.
Winburg cannot survive on the dwindling water supply from Wolwas Dam alone. Both dams must function to provide sufficient water to the community. With the Rietfontein Dam offline due to pollution and the Wolwas Dam failing due to broken infrastructure, immediate intervention is critical.
The situation represents a stark example of how infrastructure neglect and municipal inaction can lead to humanitarian crises in South African communities.
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