More than 60 outstanding water leaks across Moqhaka Local Municipality are resulting in losses of treated water, with some leaks remaining unattended for more than six months despite being reported to municipal authorities.

Leaks have been reported in Keevey, Borchardt and Neubauer streets, where residents have continued to wait for repairs.

Formal correspondence has been sent to the municipal manager regarding the outstanding leaks, but the problems remain unresolved.

Cllr Marelize Boeije, a DA councillor in Moqhaka Local Municipality, said the municipality could not expect residents to conserve water while treated water was being lost through unattended municipal infrastructure.

“This is not simply water running into the street. Every drop of treated water lost through an unattended leak represents wasted resources and additional pressure on an already strained water system,” Boeije said.

Residents have been urged to use water responsibly, repair household leaks and report municipal leaks as soon as they are identified.

However, Boeije said water conservation should be a shared responsibility between residents and the municipality.

The Auditor-General has raised concerns about the municipality’s water figures and the amounts of water being accounted for, adding to calls for greater scrutiny of water losses and municipal infrastructure management.

The DA is calling on the municipality to attend to the more than 60 outstanding leaks without further delay, prioritise leaks that have been unresolved for six months or longer, and provide a clear response to formal correspondence already submitted.

The party also called for concerns surrounding water figures and accountability to be addressed.

With communities across Moqhaka continuing to face water challenges, the ongoing loss of treated water through municipal leaks is placing further pressure on an already strained system.