The DA caucus in Mopani District Municipality will write to the Mopani District Municipality and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to immediately release the detailed recovery plan that Mopani was required to submit following the 2021 SAHRC inquiry.
The public deserves transparency on what has been done, what hasn’t, and why Mopani has failed to meet its obligations—especially given its commitment to addressing the crisis under SAHRC oversight.
The 2021 SAHRC investigation and report, ‘Access to Water and the Efficacy of Water Services Authorities in Limpopo’, in which the DA participated, found Mopani in violation of violated Section 27 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to sufficient water. Mopani did not attribute its water shortages to a lack of water resources, effectively admitting its failure to deliver. It was instructed to submit a detailed plan with timeframes to ensure water access in line with the Water Services Act and Compulsory Standards.
The Mopani District Municipality serves as the Water Services Authority for Greater Tzaneen, Greater Letaba, Maruleng, Ba-Phalaborwa, and Greater Giyani, with a combined population in excess of over 1 million people. Local municipalities serve as Water Services Providers under Mopani’s control, meaning Mopani must be held accountable for ongoing water and sanitation failures.
Five years later, there is no evidence of meaningful progress.
Despite hundreds of millions of rands being spent, misspent, misappropriated, wasted, and in some cases stolen, the crisis persists.
A recent oversight visit conducted by the municipality revealed, among other issues, that:
• Ba-Phalaborwa: The Phalaborwa and Namakgale sewage works were not operational.
• Maruleng: The Mametja Sekororo water works and the Kamperus sewage works were not operational.
• Giyani: The Zava water plant was not operational.
• Tzaneen: The Nkowankowa, and Lenyenye, sewage workswere not operational.
• Greater Letaba: The Sekgosese sewage works was not operational.
In many instances, the oversight report recorded that water and sewage were not being chlorinated, raw sewage was flowing into watercourses, and serious health and environmental concerns were raised. Reliable water and sanitation services are essential for economic growth, public health and basic dignity, and protecting our environment.
Mopani continues to fail its residents.
The DA stands for good governance and reliable service delivery.