ActionSA pulls no punches, pummels Sol Plaatje over water shutdown

ActionSA has launched a scathing attack on Sol Plaatje Municipality, accusing it of masking chronic failure and possible corruption behind yet another planned water shutdown in Kimberley.

This time, the taps are set to run dry from May 29 to June 3, with the municipality citing “essential maintenance” as the cause - again.

But ActionSA’s Northern Cape chairperson, Andrew Louw, isn’t buying it. In a statement that pulled no punches, he suggested that what residents are being sold as diligence is, in fact, dysfunction.

“How often must our taps run dry under the guise of repair? How many millions more must be flushed into this bottomless well of ‘infrastructure maintenance’ before we see a sustainable outcome?” Louw asked.

The party questioned the cyclical nature of the shutdowns, describing them as suspiciously well-timed, with the latest one landing just weeks before the end of the municipal financial year.

“It is uncanny how major ‘maintenance’ projects intensify just before this fiscal curtain falls. Is it prudent budgeting - or a last-minute spending spree, where scrutiny loosens and priorities shift from service delivery to financial housekeeping?” Louw asked.

According to ActionSA, the pattern is too consistent to be mere coincidence. Kimberley households and businesses are forced to scramble for buckets and bottled water at predictable intervals, while the underlying problems never seem to get resolved.

“Is this chronic crisis accidental, or orchestrated? A system permanently ‘under repair’ provides fertile ground for emergency tenders, fast-tracked procurement, and, perhaps, discreet enrichment,” Louw warned.

The party has called for an independent forensic investigation into water infrastructure procurement and expenditure over the past decade. They’re demanding transparency, audits, and a long-term plan that is made public - with measurable outcomes and regular reporting.

ActionSA’s remarks tap into growing public frustration as residents brace for yet another dry spell. The party argues that while municipal leaders issue apologies and point to broken pipes, it's the people of Kimberley - especially the elderly, sick, and young - who bear the brunt of mismanagement

“Sol Plaatje’s residents are not blind. They live the collapse of municipal competence every day. They deserve more than apologies and platitudes - they deserve clean water, honest governance, and meaningful change.”

With water outages becoming the new normal, ActionSA's final question may strike the loudest chord:

“The question is no longer when the next shutdown will occur - it’s why we continue to tolerate a cycle that fails us all, and who benefits most from keeping Kimberley perpetually thirsty?”

Last week, the municipality informed residents that the planned city-wide shutdown was to carry out major infrastructure repairs, including fixing 16 leaks on the main pipelines and replacing leaking valves. 

The shutdown is part of ongoing efforts funded by a R2.5 billion infrastructure grant, with 11 of 27 leaks already repaired since April 2024.

Additional work includes servicing pumps at the Vaal River, de-sludging tanks at Riverton, electrical upgrades, and installing a 10 MVA transformer. Long-term plans include replacing the 900mm pipeline with a 1.2m pipeline, a R492 million project currently under way.

Mayor Martha Bartlett said JoJo tanks will be placed at 54 locations and over 20 water tankers deployed to assist residents during the shutdown. 

Municipal manager Thapelo Matlala cautioned that more shutdowns are expected as part of ongoing improvements, and urged residents to prepare adequately. 

Meanwhile, 7,500 smart meters will be installed, and pressure valves and new pumps will be added to help stabilise the system.