MQANDULI, Eastern Cape — The Mncwasa community in Mqanduli has become a key beneficiary of the National Water Access Acceleration Programme, marking a significant step toward resolving the Eastern Cape’s severe water access crisis. As the country’s most water-stressed region, where more than six in ten residents lack access to piped water, this initiative aims to deliver immediate and sustainable relief to the OR Tambo District.
Launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the programme focuses on erecting boreholes to provide interim, yet highly impactful, water access. While the first phase of the launch has concluded, ongoing engagements between community members and officials continue. Despite the new installations, some residents have expressed frustration that earlier promises of comprehensive piped water and tap infrastructure remain unfinished.
Dr. Gaster Sharpley, Chairperson of the Amatola Water Board, addressed these community concerns, emphasizing that rural water backlogs are long-term challenges requiring substantial financial investment. He noted that groundwater extraction via boreholes offers a quicker, more viable short-term solution compared to the unsustainable and expensive reliance on water tankers.
Highlighting the programme’s cost-efficiency, Dr. Sharpley provided a practical example: a single borehole, costing 4.4 million rand, currently provides water to 92 households. In contrast, utilizing surface water and installing the necessary bulk infrastructure across vast rural distances would cost approximately 43,000 rand per household. This makes groundwater the most immediate and practical option. Additionally, he pointed out that groundwater infrastructure is significantly less susceptible to vandalism than exposed surface water systems.
Addressing health and safety concerns, Dr. Sharpley guaranteed the drinkability of the supplied water. He confirmed that water is rigorously tested before commissioning. The OR Tambo District Municipality conducts regular testing, supported by the Amatola Water Board’s laboratory services. He added that groundwater is inherently more secure and harder to manipulate than exposed surface water sources, which are vulnerable to contamination.
The Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, who recently visited the site, personally verified the water quality by drinking from one of the newly installed taps during a community engagement session.
Despite this progress, logistical challenges remain. The drilling site for the current borehole is located approximately 8 to 10 kilometers from the tap location. While the system successfully reaches the community, this distance raises valid concerns about accessibility for elderly residents or those in sparsely populated villages with large, spread-out homesteads used for farming and livestock.
While groundwater serves as a crucial immediate intervention, Dr. Sharpley reiterated that the ultimate long-term goal remains the development of comprehensive surface water reticulation. This future infrastructure will ensure equitable, reliable water access for both urban and rural communities across the Eastern Cape.
