Endless water woes: Kimberley residents fed up with leaks and disruptions

FOR YEARS, Kimberley residents have been plagued by ongoing water interruptions, leaving many frustrated by the lack of a clear timeline for when an uninterrupted water supply will become a reality. 

Despite repeated promises from Sol Plaatje Municipality to address the issue, locals are growing increasingly impatient as the situation continues without resolution.

Now, with rumours circulating that the municipality is planning an extended water disruption in early May, residents are asking: when will it end?

The municipality’s ongoing nightly water shutdown, currently running from 9pm to 4am, has become a daily inconvenience for city residents - especially those living in high-lying areas. While residents have grown accustomed to this as part of life in Kimberley, it’s the full water shutdowns that hit the hardest."

The DFA spoke to municipal spokesperson Thabo Mothibi to clarify the situation. 

“Yes, the water will be going off, but we would like to assure residents that the municipality will only implement a water supply interruption after the Easter and Wildeklawer competition period. This will be in the first or second week of May 2025," Mothibi said.

However, many residents feel that these assurances are insufficient given the long-standing nature of the problem. 

"We’ve heard it all before," one local business owner said. "They keep saying they’ll fix it, but we’re still dealing with the same old issues of leaks and disruptions. It’s just not good enough."

According to Mothibi, the municipality has been working to address leaks in the bulk pipeline system. Last year, a smart ball investigation identified 27 leaks in the system, with 14 of those repaired in April 2024. However, 13 leaks remain unresolved - five of which are major leaks, while the others are related to valve issues. 

Mothibi confirmed that the municipality plans to address these remaining leaks before the expiration of the current Bulk Supply Leak Repair Contract. "These are set for completion before the expiry of the contract," he assured.

The delays in repairs, however, have not gone unnoticed. Residents have expressed frustration with the pace of the work, especially given the municipality's repeated assurances that the problem will be fixed. 

"We just want uninterrupted water, and we deserve it. How many years will it take for the municipality to resolve this issue once and for all?" a resident questioned.

Mothibi explained that some of the repair work had been delayed due to extreme weather conditions. 

"We had an extended summer with lingering heatwaves and, as a result, the repair works could not be carried out earlier in the year. During the extreme heatwave experienced earlier this year, the municipality resorted to only carrying out some temporary repair work on the 600mm diameter pipeline," he said.

Long-term infrastructure repair plans

Despite these challenges, the municipality remains committed to its long-term infrastructure repair plans. 

“The municipality's Bulk Water Infrastructure Repair and Refurbishment Programme, largely known as the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI), worth R2.5 billion, is well on track," Mothibi stated. 

He further emphasised that the municipality would continue to keep the public informed about ongoing projects and progress, including the achievements of the BFI programme launched in February 2025.

"We will keep reflecting on the achievements and projects still to unfold during the seven-year lifespan of the project."

While the long-term programme offers hope for the future, many Kimberley residents are looking for immediate relief. "We just want the basics – water that works without interruptions," one local resident remarked.

In the meantime, the municipality is also assuring residents that the Newton Reservoir levels remain above satisfactory levels and that water production is currently meeting daily demand. However, Mothibi cautioned that lifting the nightly water supply interruptions is not yet feasible due to the ongoing repairs at the Riverton Purification plants. 

"Even though water production matches the daily demand, it's not ideal to lift the nightly water supply interruption of 9pm to 4am as yet," he explained.

As Kimberley residents continue to endure water interruptions, many are calling for more transparency and accountability from the municipality. With the ongoing leaks and no immediate resolution in sight, the demand for action is growing. 

Mothibi stressed: "We will once again use all communication channels to inform residents about the planned water supply interruption and keep them updated during and after the interruption." 

However, for many, words alone are no longer enough – they are looking for real, lasting solutions.