BLOEMFONTEIN, Free State — The Mangaung Metro is currently grappling with severe infrastructure challenges, where ongoing sewage spills and collapsing service delivery have sparked widespread public health concerns. At the heart of the crisis is an aging sewer network struggling to accommodate rapid urban expansion, compounded by massive water losses and allegations of mismanaged municipal contracts.
Despite years of national government intervention, the municipality continues to face systemic failures. Reports indicate that approximately 48% of the metro’s bulk water is lost through leaks and burst pipes before it ever reaches residents. This catastrophic water loss is accompanied by severe sewage spills, poorly maintained landfills, and unreliable refuse collection, creating a hazardous environment for local communities.
Aging Infrastructure and Growing Pains in Ward 7
In Ward 7, residents have been forced to navigate wetlands of raw sewage. According to Clement Sehloho, ANC Ward 7 Councillor, the root of the problem lies in historical urban planning. Sehloho explains that the local sewer infrastructure and pump stations were developed prior to 1994, long before the rapid expansion of nearby areas like Freedom Square.
“The infrastructure that was there even before 1994 was not able to accommodate the volume of the sewer as the location is expanding and more people are coming,” Sehloho noted. He added that there has been a lack of developmental upgrades to the pump stations to match the growing population.
To address this, Sehloho confirmed that a major refurbishment project, funded by the national treasury, is currently underway. The project involves installing larger sewer pipes and upgrading pump stations from Freedom Square through to Phase 7. The construction is being handled by a contractor, Benitech, with a targeted completion date of December.
When pressed on concerns regarding political patronage in the awarding of municipal contracts, Sehloho defended the process, stating that contractors are appointed by the municipal supply chain management panel, not by individual councillors. Furthermore, when asked about the ongoing internal leadership disputes within the ANC and a Constitutional Court hearing regarding election dates for 181 municipalities, Sehloho declined to comment, citing that the matter is sub judice and refusing to influence court proceedings.
Community Outcry and Allegations of Corruption in Ward 6
While the municipality promises upcoming fixes, the on-the-ground reality in areas like Ward 6 remains dire. Residents and local leaders describe roads that are entirely impassable, with raw sewage and dirty water continuously spewing over potholes. The spills have not only created unbearable odors and dust but have also disrupted fiber optic cables, leaving many without connectivity, while posing severe risks to vehicles and pedestrians.
Potso Motoko, Chairperson of the National Service Delivery Forum, painted a grim picture of municipal mismanagement. Motoko alleges that the municipality frequently awards contracts to inexperienced companies owned by “close friends,” resulting in abandoned trenches and substandard work that leaves communities to deal with the fallout.
“Their problem is that they will bring their close friends’ companies that are inexperienced to come and try and do this type of work, and after that, they will leave their holes like this,” Motoko explained. He warned that these open trenches pose a severe danger to children and cause further damage to surrounding infrastructure when it rains.
Motoko also raised serious allegations of financial corruption, claiming that phantom services are being billed to the municipality. He highlighted a specific instance where a water reservoir is allegedly invoiced at R2 million a month for 24-hour security guarding, despite having no security personnel on site.
Addressing the lack of executive oversight, Motoko criticized the municipal leadership, including the executive mayor, for a pattern of inaction. He noted that while leadership often agrees with community grievances during formal meetings, no tangible rectification follows. Motoko added that residents are often too intimidated to report these irregularities directly to the mayor due to entrenched political patronage.
As the Mangaung Metro awaits the completion of its promised sewer upgrades in December, community leaders are demanding greater transparency, urging the municipality to publish the names of contracted engineering firms on visible billboards so that citizens know exactly who to hold accountable when projects fail.
