Residents of Xanthia, an impoverished village in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, still rely on unsafe well water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning—a decade after the installation of a multi-million-rand water storage tower.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga has called for an investigation into the steel water tower, reportedly built for R42 million in 2015, which has yet to provide a consistent water supply to the community.
A Struggle for Basic Water Access
Residents have resorted to makeshift solutions, such as digging holes, placing drums underground, and using rocks and plastic to filter well water.
“Water supply is not constant throughout the year,” one resident explained. “We had to make a plan—dig up a hole, place a drum underground with plastic and rocks so it can filter the water and be clean enough for cooking and cleaning. If it doesn’t rain, we don’t have water.”
Another elderly resident shared, “Since 1953, when I was born, we have been struggling with water. We drink from a well—it’s not always clean, but there’s nothing we can do. I don’t even boil the water because it will reduce [the amount we have].”
Frustrated by the lack of progress, locals have protested, only to be met with police dispersing them with rubber bullets.
DA Demands Investigation Into Failed Project
The DA has raised concerns over the non-functional water tower, demanding that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.
“There’s a reservoir costing something like R42 million, built in 2015, yet there’s no drop of water there,” a DA representative said. “There’s no pipe connection, and people are still getting water from the well.”
The party also highlighted safety concerns, alleging that women fetching water from distant sources face dangers, including a reported rape case near the well.
Municipality Blames Illegal Connections
The Bushbuckridge Municipality could not confirm the R42 million cost but insisted the storage tower is connected to pipes. Officials blamed illegal connections for disrupting water flow.
“The pipe that the tank is connected to was not getting sufficient water because community members have connected to the bulk pipe,” a municipal spokesperson said.
Despite installing a booster pump in 2022 and 2023, the municipality admitted the system still failed. They are now attempting to lay a new pipeline while struggling to provide water tankers due to ongoing repairs.
As Xanthia’s residents continue their daily struggle for clean water, questions remain over how R42 million was spent on a project that has left them no better off than before.
The DA has vowed to escalate its call for accountability, while the community waits for a lasting solution to their decades-long water crisis.
