KAKAMAS, NORTHERN CAPE – A deepening water and sanitation crisis in the Kai !Garib Local Municipality has prompted urgent intervention from national government, with Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Sello Seitlholo issuing a firm deadline for municipal leadership to present a viable recovery strategy.
Speaking after a fact-finding visit to the region on Friday, 29 May, Seitlholo expressed grave concern over the municipality’s persistent failure to address systemic service delivery breakdowns affecting the towns of Kakamas, Keimoes, Kenhardt, and Vredesvallei.
Alarming Regulatory Findings
Official regulatory assessments from the Department of Water and Sanitation reveal a steep decline in service standards. The municipality’s Blue Drop certification score – a national benchmark for drinking water quality management – fell to 16.20% in 2023, a dramatic drop from the 71.42% achieved in 2014. Every one of Kai !Garib’s 16 water supply systems is now classified in the critical performance bracket.
Wastewater management indicators show an even more precarious situation. The 2024 Green Drop score, which evaluates wastewater treatment performance, collapsed to just 0.3%. This represents a significant regression from 13% in 2021 and 34% in 2013. Treatment facilities in Keimoes and Kenhardt both recorded scores of 0.0%, while the Vredesvallei wastewater treatment plant has remained completely non-operational for more than three years.
Infrastructure Breakdown Threatens Communities
The municipality, which functions as a Water Services Authority for the region, relies on the Orange River as its primary water source. Water is drawn via a canal managed by the Kakamas Water User Association, originating from a weir near the settlement of Marchand. This infrastructure supplies both municipal distribution networks and irrigation systems supporting the area’s commercial vineyards.
However, longstanding operational challenges have undermined service reliability. Persistent sewage overflows from manholes, failing pump stations, compromised stormwater infrastructure, and overloaded oxidation ponds have led to contamination of local waterways. Officials warn these conditions present serious risks to public health and environmental sustainability.
Despite repeated non-compliance notices issued by the department, progress in rectifying these deficiencies has remained limited.
Investment Made, Results Pending
Recognizing the urgent need for infrastructure renewal, the Department of Water and Sanitation allocated more than R12 million through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to refurbish the aging Kakamas Water Treatment Works. An additional R7 million was directed toward upgrades at the Vredesvallei Wastewater Treatment Works. Both capital projects were completed in December 2025.
In 2023, the municipality also submitted a feasibility study to national government proposing two major interventions: the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility in Kakamas, and a bulk water supply expansion designed to serve Kakamas, neighboring villages, and commercial agricultural operations.
Concrete Actions Required by June Deadline
During his site inspection of the Kakamas oxidation ponds, Deputy Minister Seitlholo directed municipal officials to prepare and submit a comprehensive corrective action plan before the end of June. The plan must contain:
- A precise identification of system failures across water and sanitation infrastructure
- Detailed corrective measures and technical restoration strategies
- Clear implementation schedules with defined milestones
- Mechanisms for regular progress reporting on critical system upgrades
- Projected outcomes and service improvement targets
“Water and sanitation services in Kai !Garib municipality have reached a critical state,” Seitlholo stated. “This situation necessitates coordinated intervention from both the Departments of Water and Sanitation and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, aligned with the reform framework established at the 2025 Water and Sanitation Indaba.”
The Deputy Minister confirmed that the department will maintain active oversight of the municipality’s progress. “We expect the municipality to adhere to the timelines set out,” he said. “Our shared objective is restoring infrastructure that delivers safe, reliable drinking water and dignified sanitation services to these communities.”
As residents await meaningful improvements, pressure intensifies on local leadership to translate planning into tangible service delivery outcomes.