The Free State government has been strongly critised for its continued failure to ensure municipal compliance with the constitutional right to water access.
In a statement the Provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Coogta) has been called to give account for the gross negligence has left thousands of residents across multiple Free State municipalities without access to basic water services, creating health risks and threatening livelihoods.
Water crises affecting Matjhabeng, Masilonyana, Letsemeng, Mantsopa, Nala, Tokologo, and Setsoto municipalities have highlighted what the DA describes as systematic governance collapse.
In Matjhabeng, residents of Residensia have been without water for over two weeks, with only two water tankers dispatched during this period. Households are struggling with inadequate sanitation and drinking water supplies during extreme heat conditions.
Masilonyana municipality faces particularly severe challenges, with Winburg and Makeleketla approaching “Day Zero” scenarios. The Wolwas Dam sits at critically low levels due to vandalism, whilst the Rietfontein Dam has become contaminated with sewage, rendering it unsuitable for human consumption.
In Letsemeng, residents of Petrusburg and Koffiefontein endure daily water shedding due to non-operational reservoirs and damaged infrastructure. Water tanks have reportedly overflowed, wasting precious resources.
Mantsopa’s Ward 7 in Ladybrand has experienced three consecutive days without water, exacerbated by unchecked leaks and mismanagement. Nala Municipality’s Monyakeng area has suffered two months of intermittent water supply due to pipeline leaks and insufficient reservoir capacity.
Tokologo municipality presents one of the most severe cases, with residents west of the R64 in Dealsville having no water access for four weeks. Meanwhile, Setsoto Municipality residents in Clocolan are forced to consume discoloured, foul-smelling water, with reports of live worms in the supply.
The DA maintains these failures represent systematic governance collapse under ANC-led Provincial CoGTA leadership. Despite repeated warnings and intervention proposals, the party alleges the department has failed to act decisively.
“The ANC’s inability to enforce compliance with constitutional obligations has resulted in widespread suffering and human rights violations,” the party stated.
The DA has announced plans to escalate these matters to the South African Human Rights Commission and seek immediate intervention from the national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
The party will continue advocating for realistic budget implementation, revenue enhancement plans, and infrastructure refurbishment projects to ensure sustainable water supply across the province.
The opposition party has called upon Provincial CoGTA to address these crises immediately, stating that “the time for excuses is over.”
The DA pledged to continue fighting for residents’ rights to clean, reliable water whilst holding the ANC government accountable for service delivery failures.
The water crisis across multiple Free State municipalities highlights ongoing challenges in municipal infrastructure maintenance and service delivery, affecting thousands of residents’ daily lives and constitutional rights.
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