Potchefstroom Weekly Ward Group Update – 7 August 2025

Karen Scheepers
Aug 8
3 min read

Every week, Potchefstroom residents use their local ward WhatsApp groups to share updates, raise concerns, and offer support in the face of daily service delivery challenges. From power cuts and water leaks to road incidents and safety concerns, these chats reflect the heartbeat of the community. This week’s neutral summary, compiled independently and without political bias, captures the most relevant discussions from 1 to 7 August 2025, including the handover of over 13,000 demerger petition letters, infrastructure alerts, and heartfelt community responses to crisis.

🚨 Road Incidents and Fire Emergencies

Several alerts were shared about accidents and fires in the area:

31 July: A motor vehicle accident (MVA) was reported on the M12 near Klerksdorp, with no road blockage but a request to proceed with caution.
1 August: A structural fire occurred in Malva Street, Baillie Park. Emergency services responded, and the road was temporarily closed. By the next day, the Jordaan family, whose house was lost in the blaze, received strong community support. Clothing sizes and banking details were shared for donations.
4 August: A head-on collision occurred on the N12 en route to Johannesburg. One lane was closed, and authorities were on scene.

A fire prevention operation by NWU Emergency Services was also conducted at the university’s West Campus sports grounds on 28 July.

📝 Finalisation and Submission of Demerger Petition

The major focus of this week’s discussions was the culmination of the demerger petition between Potchefstroom and Ventersdorp:

Residents were reminded to submit final petition forms on 2 and 3 August at Mooirivier Mall.
A digital petition link remained active until the final submission.
On 6 August, between 13,000 and 14,000 signed petitions were officially handed over to the Municipal Demarcation Board of South Africa in Pretoria. Multiple news agencies were informed to attend the handover.

Organisers thanked the public for their overwhelming support, calling it a "phenomenal" collective effort from residents, businesses, and ward committees. One ward alone (Ward 3 and 23 combined) delivered 4,263 forms.

⚡ Electricity Disruptions

Power outages were reported in several areas, including:

Bloem Street
Beyers Naudé 289

Residents struggled to reach the municipality via phone but eventually saw power restored in some parts. Community members were seen assisting each other with updates about repairs and progress.

💧 Ongoing Water and Drainage Issues

Numerous complaints were raised regarding water and drainage:

A persistent leak in Pavey Street remained unresolved, despite previous reports.
The leak at Kamp Street 18 was growing, prompting renewed requests for action.
Some residents expressed concern about purified water flowing into streets without intervention from the municipality.

Frustration also emerged over the lack of response from municipal offices and unanswered service lines.

💡 Street Light Complaints Across Suburbs

Numerous wards reported non-functional street lights, creating unsafe and dark conditions:

Jeugd Street: Repairs were finally initiated, which was positively noted by residents.
Grimbeeck Street, Louw Street, Albert Nel Street, Hoff Street, Paul Street, and areas near Potch Primary School remained dark and dangerous.
Residents in Kamp Street and along Beyers Naudé also voiced concern about prolonged outages.
One message highlighted a serious safety issue at a traffic light on the corner of Walter Sisulu and Smit Street, where multiple muggings and break-ins had occurred due to lack of lighting.

🤝 Community Behaviour and Reminders

Admins urged residents to be patient and respectful in group discussions, particularly when tensions rose over noise, lost pets, or service delivery complaints.
A reminder was also issued about street etiquette and being understanding when group members posted complaints or requests.

🧾 Municipal Tariff Clarification

Some confusion surfaced around electricity tariff billing. A reminder was issued that July bills still reflect old tariffs, since they are based on June consumption. Residents who submit readings manually were advised to expect this discrepancy.

📍 Summary and Closing

This week's community update captures a broad range of grassroots challenges and achievements. The handover of thousands of demerger petitions marked a milestone in local civic action, while streetlight outages, drainage failures, and emergency events kept group chats active and engaged.

Despite persistent frustration with municipal responsiveness, the community’s cohesion and willingness to help one another, whether by donating clothes, reporting leaks, or pushing for infrastructure repairs, remains a defining feature of Potchefstroom’s residents.

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