The Lepelle Northern Water utility has announced it anticipates completing the multi-billion rand upgrades to the Olifantspoort and Ebenezer water schemes by the end of December 2025. The R18.5 billion projects are critical for replacing aging, dilapidated water pipes that have contributed to years of poor or non-existent water supply for residents across the province, including in the capital, Polokwane.
According to the utility, the frequent water shortages plaguing Polokwane and surrounding regions are due to a combination of essential plant maintenance, unplanned interruptions, and vandalism. However, the ongoing, extensive upgrade work itself is cited as a major cause of the current disruptions.
In a move that underscores the scale of the work, Lepelle Northern Water has announced four separate water shutdowns scheduled between November and December 2025 to facilitate the final stages of the upgrade process. The infrastructure in question has been in existence since the 1970s.
A spokesperson for Lepelle Northern Water explained the necessity of the project, stating, “The project is to refurbish the pipes, the old pipes. The old pipes have been bursting as you can understand in terms of the old infrastructure and we’ve been losing a lot of water at a great cost to the company.”
The spokesperson added, “So far we are anticipating to complete the Olifantspoort and the Ebenezer project by mid-December. Hopefully things will be going well because we are working in cooperation with the city of Polokwane.”
The planned shutdowns have severely affected areas such as Seshego, Mankweng, and downtown Polokwane, placing a significant strain on both residents and local businesses.
Business owners in Polokwane report facing high financial costs due to the persistent lack of reliable water. One business person detailed the economic impact, saying, “This is a very concerning issue because we work here in town and we spend almost 700 rand a day to buy water. One bucket costs 25 and we use 30 of those buckets so that we can cook and wash dishes. We can’t even go to the toilets because there is no water.”
Another echoed the sentiment, stating, “We don’t have water and we can’t even work properly. We use water to cook, wash the dishes and give our customers to wash their hands after cooking.”
The frustration extends to the broader community, where residents plead for intervention. “Lack of water is a serious matter here in Polokwane. Our kids come back from school early because there is no water,” one resident said. “We plead with the municipality to take us serious since we pay rates but still we are still struggling to get water. We stand long in order for us to get water at the wells. We ask for water.”
In a separate effort to address the water supply crisis, the Polokwane Municipality has reported that its project to drill boreholes around the city is well on track. This initiative aims to augment the water supply to Polokwane and its surrounding areas, providing an alternative source as the major infrastructure upgrades continue.
Residents are hopeful that the completion of the Olifantspoort and Ebenezer projects will finally bring a permanent end to the water shortages that have disrupted daily life and business operations for years.