MATJHABENG – Communities across the Free State continue to grapple with severe water shortages, despite the national government’s announcement of a R156 billion investment aimed at improving South Africa’s water infrastructure.
Several municipalities remain affected by prolonged water supply failures. In Matjhabeng, some communities have reportedly endured unreliable water services for nearly two decades. Residents in Winburg, within the Masilonyana Local Municipality, have recently faced an extended interruption to water supply, while parts of Letsemeng and Metsimaholo continue to experience frequent water shedding and recurring outages.
Blue drop progress report
The latest Blue Drop Progress Report paints a concerning picture for the province’s water infrastructure. According to the report, the Free State has the second-highest proportion of high- and critical-risk drinking water systems in South Africa, with 25 of its 78 water supply systems classified as either high or critical risk.
The report further highlights significant operational shortcomings. Nearly half of the province’s water treatment works reportedly fail to submit essential flow-monitoring data, pointing to weaknesses in operational management. It also identifies shortages of technical expertise, inadequate maintenance and limited implementation of Water Safety Plans, raising concerns about both water quality and long-term infrastructure sustainability.
Pressure on sanitation services
The ongoing water shortages are also placing increasing pressure on sanitation services, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks and creating broader public health concerns for affected communities.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for greater urgency in addressing the crisis, arguing that national funding should be directed towards municipalities experiencing the most severe service delivery failures. The party has submitted questions to the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), while also requesting intervention from the Department of Water and Sanitation.
DA Free State CoGTA spokesperson David McKay said the party is concerned that the announced infrastructure investment has yet to translate into visible improvements for residents in the province. He called for clear implementation plans, transparent timelines and greater accountability to ensure that funding reaches communities most in need.
For thousands of Free State residents, reliable access to clean water remains an urgent daily challenge, with many hoping that planned infrastructure investments will soon result in tangible improvements to one of the province’s most critical basic services.
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