SAHRC Report Reveals Widespread Service Delivery Failures Across North West Municipalities

Karen Scheepers
3 hours ago
3 min read

On Tuesday, 18 November 2025, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) released an extensive Investigative Report detailing systemic service delivery failures across several municipalities in the North West Province. The report follows a large-scale investigation conducted by the SAHRC’s North West Provincial Office after numerous complaints were lodged regarding chronic breakdowns in basic services. According to the Commission, the state of municipal governance in the province has resulted in repeated violations of residents’ constitutional rights.

Investigation Highlights Severe Municipal Non-Compliance

The Report exposes pervasive shortcomings in the delivery of essential services such as water supply, sanitation management, sewage treatment, waste collection, electricity provision, and road and stormwater infrastructure maintenance. The SAHRC states that most of the assessed municipalities are not meeting their constitutional and legislative duties, resulting in significant and ongoing human rights infringements.

Fourteen municipalities, together with the North West Provincial Government, are cited for systemic failures affecting residents across urban, peri-urban, and rural communities.

Key Findings Against Municipalities

City of Matlosana

Chronic sewage spillages in Orkney and Alabama
Long delays repairing sinkholes in Stilfontein
Violations of dignity, safety, and life due to recurring environmental hazards

JB Marks Local Municipality

Persistent sewage overflows
Irregular waste collection
Poor road infrastructure and water shortages affecting Ikageng, Ventersdorp, and Goedgevonden
Violations of dignity, health, and access to water

Maquassi Hills Local Municipality

Inconsistent water supply
Ongoing sewage problems and littering in Wolmaransstad, Kgakala, and Teflop
Rights to dignity, water, and sanitation compromised

Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality

Province-wide water shortages
Poor water quality
Sewage spillages in Bloemhof, Reivilo, Ganyesa, and Huhudi
Violations of the right to sufficient water and a healthy environment

Lekwa-Teemane Local Municipality

Failure to provide roads and electricity to registered residential sites in Boitumelong
Violations of access to basic services

Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality

Mismanagement of the Bray landfill site
Health and dignity risks due to improper waste handling

Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality

Persistent water shortages and sewage failures across Ipelegeng, Mahikeng, Setlagole, Lichtenburg, Gareleng, Kraaipan, Mareetsane, and Zeerust
Rights to water and sanitation violated

Mahikeng Local Municipality

Poor management of illegal dumping
Stormwater flooding near Bophelong Hospital
Ongoing risks to health and public safety

Ditsobotla Local Municipality

Incomplete road project in Itsoseng Zone 2
Restricted movement and dignity infringements for residents

Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality

Recurring water shortages and sewage spills
Unsafe settlements in flood-prone zones
Violations of dignity and environmental safety

Madibeng Local Municipality

Widespread water shortages in Jericho, Kagisanong View, Majakaneng, and Letlhabile Block E
Failure to provide reliable access to sufficient water

Moretele Local Municipality

Poor road maintenance
Water shortages affecting rural communities and schools
Impact on education and basic living conditions

Moses Kotane Local Municipality

Severe and persistent water and sanitation failures affecting multiple villages, including Tlhatlhaganyane, Mmorogong, Maolagane, Ramokokastad, Mabelleng, Uitkyk, Voordenker, Tweelagte, Bapong, Rietfontein, and others
Violations impacting access to water and healthcare services

Rustenburg Local Municipality

Chronic water shortages
Repeated sewage spillages in communities such as Ramochana, Tlhabane, and Marikana
Poor road conditions
Sustained violations of constitutional rights

View full Report in PDF below:

Required Actions and Directives Issued by the SAHRC

In response to the widespread breakdown of municipal services, the SAHRC has ordered all affected municipalities to:

Deploy operational teams to resolve sewage spillages within 24 hours of any new report
Submit 30-day progress reports detailing remedial actions
Develop and implement costed, time-bound action plans within 90 days
Restore environmental damage caused by sewage leaks, solid-waste backlogs, and illegal dumping

The Commission emphasises that these directives are intended to enforce accountability and ensure that municipalities address the structural causes of service delivery decline.

A Broader National Concern

While this report focuses on the North West Province, the SAHRC notes that similar service-delivery deficiencies have been identified in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Free State. The Commission stresses that municipal governance is central to the realisation of constitutional rights, particularly in vulnerable communities.

The SAHRC has committed to closely monitoring the implementation of all directives to ensure that municipalities fulfil their responsibilities.

Wrap-up

The findings presented in the SAHRC’s Investigative Report underline deep-seated governance failures across multiple municipalities in the North West Province. For thousands of residents, inconsistent access to water, sanitation, waste management and other essential services continues to undermine their dignity and constitutional rights. The Commission’s directives now place a clear obligation on local and provincial authorities to act decisively, urgently, and transparently to reverse the ongoing decline in service delivery.

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