Several municipalities are experiencing water shortages, low pressure and contamination, prompting the government to coordinate interventions aimed at improving reliability.
Mahlobo said President Cyril Ramaphosa had provided national leadership in responding to problems affecting municipal water systems. “His Excellency the President made a decision to provide leadership in the country around what we term the water crisis, which is about water reliability,” Mahlobo said.
“A number of municipalities are struggling, including the treatment works in Tshwane.”
Tshwane has faced several water-quality problems, including a gastrointestinal illness outbreak affecting more than 400 residents in Bronkhorstspruit.
However, Mahlobo cautioned against treating every water system as unsafe, saying infrastructure and water quality remained satisfactory in several areas. “A number of water systems in our country are in good condition. The quality is good in other areas,” Mahlobo said.
Municipalities nevertheless had a responsibility to maintain transparency because residents required accurate and timely information to protect health. “What we need to do is ensure that we are transparent,” Mahlobo said.
“We must communicate with citizens and publish the results daily about whether the water is safe to drink or not.”
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
