- A decade of indifference and broken promises continues to leave Turkey without reliable water.
- Maruleng and Mopani municipalities must provide safe drinking water and repair the infrastructure.
- Water access must never depend on political affiliation.
The Democratic Alliance in the Maruleng Municipality calls on the Maruleng local and Mopani district municipalities to provide immediate access to safe drinking water for the Turkey community of Ward 7, while the pipeline, valves and borehole, which should be serving the community but have remained broken and inoperative for more than a decade, are repaired.
Both municipalities must also respond substantively to a petition recently handed over and explain why previous commitments were not honoured. The unresponsiveness and indifference to the plight of the community, despite the responsibilities of both municipalities to ensure access to water, are not acceptable.
For more than a decade, residents of Turkey in Ward 7 of Maruleng have pleaded for reliable water. Despite repeated appeals by the community and the DA, and promises that the problems would be resolved, large parts of the settlement, including the Rakgolokwana High School, remain high and dry.
Making matters worse, no municipal water tankers have been dispatched to service the area.
Residents report having to pay private suppliers to deliver water or collect water from a well also used by animals.
See video and photos here, here, and here.
According to DA ward candidate Reckson Mogofe, the mountain reservoir above the settlement has water, but problems with the supply pipe and valves prevent it from reaching the community. The Maruleng municipality promised to supply a replacement pipe, but it has never arrived. The local borehole is also unusable because its pump is not working.
Following a community meeting on 5 October 2026, a petition supported by more than 300 residents was submitted to Maruleng Local Municipality on 8 October, requesting feedback within five working days.
The community’s water plight has a tragic history. On 6 September 2020, communal farmer Mr Moshwene Frans Mokgotho was killed in Turkey, allegedly by an angry mob over his access to water.
At the time, the DA publicly called on then CoGHSTA MEC Basikopo Makamu to investigate water access in Maruleng and have the existing boreholes repaired. Six years later, residents are still pleading for reliable water.
Ironically, Pule Shayi, who presided as the Executive Mayor of the Mopani District (the Water Services Authority for Maruleng) during Turkey’s crisis, is now the MEC for CoGHSTA.
The continued unresponsiveness also raises concerns about whether the ward, previously represented by an ANC councillor and now represented by an independent councillor, is being neglected for brazen party-political considerations.
Reliable water is essential for health, schooling, farming and small businesses. Municipal failure undermines basic rights and people’s dignity and prevents businesses from growing and creating jobs.
Turkey’s residents have waited long enough. A full reservoir and empty promises mean little when the taps remain empty.