Residents of Carletonville and surrounding areas continue to endure frequent water interruptions as the Carletonville 007 Reservoir remains decommissioned.
The timeline for completion of the reservoir’s restoration should have been due for end of 2024 yet the municipality continues to drag its feet in addressing this pressing matter.
Despite remediation work undertaken between 2015 and 2019, the reservoir remains out of service. This is due to contractor abandonment, new sinkholes, and financial shortfalls.
To date, R19,6 million has been spent on the intervention under the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) however they still require a further R2 million to complete the project.
They have also revised the completion date to June 2026, 18 months from the previous date, a delay that the residents simply cannot afford.
This information comes as the DA’s Deputy Spokesperson on Water and Sanitation, Stephen Moore MP, submitted a written question to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).
The Carletonville 007 Reservoir has been out of action for a long time leaving the area without the necessary water supply.
This is worsened by the fact that Rand Water has stopped sending as much water to Merafong as the municipality still owes a lot of money, amounting to R1,4 billion.
On top of this, the whole water system is under pressure with the pipes and tanks being old.
This is aggravated by people using a lot more water than usual as the heat is fast approaching with temperatures rising.
Without urgent intervention, Carletonville can face a humanitarian crisis, especially as the summer season is looming.
The DA is calling for money to be set aside specifically for the Carletonville 007 Reservoir. There is still R2 million rand needed to complete the project by June 2026.
If this can’t happen the DA demands a clear back up plan.
The DA will continue fighting for water security in Merafong and escalating this wherever possible.