Sol Plaatje slammed as Ritchie water crisis enters second month

THE DEMOCRATIC Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape has once again sounded the alarm over the continued water shortages affecting the communities of Ritchie, Modderrivier, Rietvale, and Motswedimosa, calling on the Sol Plaatje Municipality to show greater urgency in restoring a reliable water supply.

This follows a severe disruption caused by flooding on April 26, which washed away the main pump in the Riet River, leaving residents without water for a week. A month later, the situation remains critical, with the community dependent on smaller back-up pumps that cannot meet the daily demand. Water shedding remains in place, allowing residents access to water for only a few hours a day.

In a statement issued this week, DA caucus chairperson Cllr Elize Niemann criticised the municipality for a perceived lack of urgency and delays in appointing a contractor for repairs and upgrades to the local water treatment plant.

"The pump was only pulled from the river on Monday and now needs to be sent away for repairs,” Niemann said. “Sol Plaatje shows no urgency in attending to this crisis, nor to other compounding issues like the broken pipeline from the pumps to the reservoir, which residents have now repaired out of their own pockets.”

Niemann added that the municipal manager had committed to appointing a contractor weeks ago and that R83 million had been ring-fenced for the upgrades. However, according to her, the funding appeared not to be immediately available, with the budget document showing it is allocated under capital projects.

“The municipality must stop telling the council what it thinks we want to hear and start telling us the truth,” she insisted. “If the funding is available, there should be no more delays. If it’s not, the community deserves transparency.”

In response to media queries, Thabo Mothibi, manager of the Communications Unit at Sol Plaatje Municipality, confirmed that a contractor was appointed on May 20 for the upgrade of the water plant. However, construction work has not yet begun.

“The contractor is currently in the process of securing all the guarantees and construction work permits required before any construction can commence,” Mothibi explained.

Regarding the funding for the project, Mothibi stated that the Bulk Water Infrastructure Upgrade budget for the 2025/26 financial year amounts to R574 million, with R83 million ring-fenced for the Ritchie area. However, these funds will only become available in tranches from August 2025, as disbursed by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

While long-term repair work is pending, Mothibi said that temporary measures have been implemented, including the restoration of water treatment at the plant and the placement of JoJo tanks at strategic locations, which are being regularly replenished to support the affected communities.

The DA, however, remains concerned about the gap between community needs and the municipality’s timelines, vowing to continue oversight visits to the water plant and to press for quicker action.

“Water is a basic human right and must be protected in Ritchie and its surrounds,” Niemann emphasised.