National Intervention: Government Steps in Over JB Marks Sewer Crisis

For years, the residents of Potchefstroom, particularly those in Ikageng, Promosa, and Mohadin, have been forced to coexist with a silent, foul-smelling enemy: raw sewage. While local leadership has offered little more than excuses, the national Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has finally been forced to intervene, acknowledging that the JB Marks Local Municipality is failing its citizens.

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A Decade of Neglect: Living in Filth

The reality on the ground is a damning indictment of local governance. During a recent site inspection on Friday, 16 January 2026, Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo witnessed the harrowing conditions in Extension 7 near Poortjies Dam. In a shocking revelation of municipal incompetence, it was discovered that at least two households have been living with sewage spillages on their doorsteps for an estimated ten years.

This is not a sudden crisis; it is a decade-long abandonment of basic human rights. Residents and local businesses have been left to navigate overflowing manholes and unsanitary conditions that pose a severe health risk to the entire community.

The Death of the Mooi River

The crisis extends far beyond the residential streets. The Mooi River, the lifeblood of Potchefstroom’s agriculture, industry, and domestic water supply, is being systematically poisoned. Because the municipality lacks the "tools of trade" and functional machinery to maintain infrastructure, untreated waste is flowing directly into the river or through stormwater channels.

Between 2020 and 2023, affected communities and downstream water users, tired of the inaction, lodged formal complaints with both the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). Despite multiple directives and notices issued by the DWS following these complaints, the municipality’s responses have been dismissed as ineffective.

They have failed to implement any immediate measures to stop the pollution, leading to a criminal case being opened by civil society and an ongoing investigation by Environmental Management Inspectors.

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Vulnerable Institutions Under Threat

The failure of infrastructure is hitting the most vulnerable members of our society. Reports have surfaced regarding critical sewage problems near the Abraham Kriel Children's Home, a facility that provides essential care to children in need.

While Johan Zerwig has confirmed that the municipality is currently attempting to address the immediate blockage, the intervention is seen as a "band-aid" on a much larger wound. The recurring nature of these spills highlights a grim reality: preventative maintenance is not a luxury, it is a necessity. When infrastructure is neglected for years, institutions that are already under pressure, like children's homes, are forced to operate in hazardous environments.

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National Intervention: A Last Resort

Deputy Minister Seitlholo did not mince his words, labeling the current situation "unacceptable." The national government has now stepped in to approve rehabilitation projects under the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG). These projects are specifically targeted at the crumbling infrastructure in Promosa and Mohadin.

However, the Deputy Minister pointed out a glaring failure: even with project approvals, the municipality lacks the basic equipment to respond to spillages. A follow-up meeting is scheduled within two weeks to hold local officials accountable. For the people of Potchefstroom, the question remains: why did it take a decade of rot for action to be taken?

To the residents of Potchefstroom: 

You have endured the stench of failure for long enough. As the national government takes the reins of this crisis, it is time for local leadership to be held to the standard that a city of this importance deserves. From the families in Extension 7 to the children at Abraham Kriel, no one should have to wait a decade for a working sewer line.

Information sourced from: SAnews - Government Intervenes over JB Marks Sewer Crisis