KAMAQHEKEZA, Mpumalanga — Residents of KaMaqhekeza in the Nkomazi area of Mpumalanga have taken to the streets to protest a weeks-long water outage, demanding urgent intervention from the local municipality to resolve the escalating water crisis.
The atmosphere in the community grew tense as frustrated residents blocked streets, requiring a significant police presence to maintain order and bring the situation under control. Community members expressed deep anger, stating that the local municipality has repeatedly taken them for granted and accused local authorities of sabotaging their access to basic services. Locals emphasized that this is not their first strike over unreliable water access.
Despite earlier hopes that the issue would be resolved following a mayoral visit triggered by previous protests, the water supply remains cut off. The core of the crisis stems from a malfunctioning raw water pump, which is responsible for extracting water from the river to the treatment plant. The equipment has not been operating at full capacity for an extended period, leaving the community without a reliable supply.
Addressing the ongoing disruption, municipal spokesperson Malala acknowledged the severe impact on the community. Malala confirmed that the municipality had committed to repairing the pump and noted that a scheduled intervention by a technical service provider was actively being pursued to restore full functionality.
Looking beyond immediate fixes, Malala outlined a long-term solution to the infrastructure deficit. The spokesperson stated that the municipality is planning to completely replace the faulty pump with a larger, higher-capacity unit. This upgrade aims to ensure sustainable water delivery and prevent future outages in the KaMaqhekeza area, providing a permanent resolution to the community’s ongoing struggle for reliable access to water.
