The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Lephalale Municipality will write to the Municipal Manager and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to demand immediate intervention and a clear timeline to resolve the appalling water crisis faced by residents of the Mahlakung informal settlement in Lephalale — a community of around 700 people who are forced to share only three standpipes.
The DA will demand that:
- Additional standpipes be installed without delay to ensure reasonable access to water across the settlement; and
- A proper needs assessment and implementation plan with clear timelines be developed to ensure the roll-out of permanent and equitable water infrastructure.
The DA is appalled that in 2025, the people of Mahlakung are still living under such degrading and inhumane conditions. Families are unable to maintain hygiene, while children and the elderly suffer most. Access to clean and sufficient water is not a privilege — it is a basic human right.
This ongoing neglect by the Lephalale Municipality demonstrates a complete disregard for the dignity and wellbeing of the Mahlakung community. Water scarcity in informal settlements is not merely an infrastructure problem — it is a human rights crisis.
The DA in Lephalale will continue to stand alongside the residents of Mahlakung until their basic rights are met and their access to water is secured.