Merafong Municipality Highlights Action Plan Following Fochville Water Protest

Karen Scheepers
Sep 25
2 min read

The Executive Mayor of Merafong City Local Municipality, together with representatives from the Gauteng Provincial Government, has received a memorandum of demands from the Fochville Water Crisis Committee and residents who marched for improved water supply. The demonstration highlighted ongoing concerns about prolonged shortages and low pressure in high-lying areas such as Fochville and Kokosi.

Community Concerns

Residents raised the impact of Rand Water’s 40% supply restrictions and the municipality’s bulk water debt, alongside the strain of ageing infrastructure. These challenges have been worsened by low payment levels in some areas, with Kokosi recording less than 10% payment compliance. The community emphasized the importance of reliable access to clean water as a basic right for households, schools, businesses, and clinics.

Financial Constraints

The municipality noted that more than R6 billion in unpaid rates and service charges is owed, with a large share linked to local mining operations. Additional debts are attributed to businesses and households, leaving the municipality with a revenue collection rate of around 20%. This shortfall directly affects the ability to settle accounts with service providers such as Rand Water and to invest in infrastructure upgrades.

Immediate and Long-Term Actions

A multi-pronged response plan was outlined, including:

Intensified engagements with Rand Water and the Gauteng Provincial Government to stabilize supply and negotiate debt arrangements.
Accelerated repairs and upgrades to reservoirs, pumps, and reticulation systems.
Expanded deployment of water tankers to high-risk areas such as Kokosi and parts of Wedela.
Community education and enforcement campaigns to curb illegal connections, leaks, and wastage.

Government Support

The Office of the Premier welcomed the constructive dialogue and committed to providing intergovernmental support to fast-track solutions. Officials emphasized that cooperation between municipalities, provincial government, and Rand Water is essential to building long-term stability in the water supply system.

Commitment to Solutions

The municipality confirmed that the memorandum will be studied in detail and a formal written response will follow within agreed timeframes. Residents were encouraged to use official communication platforms to report leaks, burst pipes, or illegal connections promptly, ensuring faster intervention.

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