Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seithlolo, has revealed that 78% of water treatment plants in Limpopo are not functioning properly, leading to contamination of water sources and higher costs for consumers.
Speaking during an oversight visit to the Sekhiming village water project outside Giyani, Seithlolo highlighted the severe impact of dysfunctional sewer systems and illegal mining on water quality.
Pollution and Rising Costs
Seithlolo explained that partially treated or raw sewage is being released into water sources, increasing the cost of purification and ultimately burdening consumers.
“The biggest problem we have in Limpopo is that 78% of wastewater treatment works are critical and dysfunctional,” he said. “This means contaminated water enters our resources, making it more expensive to treat and sell in bulk—costs that are passed on to consumers, many of whom are indigent.”
The Deputy Minister urged municipalities to update indigent registers to assist struggling households.
Infrastructure Challenges Despite Full Dams
State-owned water utility Lepelle Northern Water acknowledged that while dams in the province are full, aging and inadequate infrastructure remains a major hurdle.
“We don’t have a water shortage—the dams are full. The challenge is infrastructure,” a representative said, emphasizing the need for public-private partnerships to fund upgrades.
Frustrated Residents
Residents of Sekhiming expressed frustration over inconsistent water supply from a local sand water project, launched five years ago by former Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
*”We are not satisfied. The plant worked briefly in 2020 but was non-functional for over a year,”* one resident said. “Since last August, we’ve had to fetch water from the river.”
Oversight Visit Continues
Seithlolo’s visit, which began at the Doorndraai Dam on Friday, is part of the ministry’s efforts to tackle water pollution and supply challenges in the drought-prone province.
With Limpopo’s semi-arid conditions making every water source vital, the government faces mounting pressure to repair failing infrastructure and ensure clean, reliable water for communities.
