Jessica Nel, councillor, Matjhabeng Local Municipality:
The DA demands answers from the Matjhabeng Local Municipality on why nothing is being done to prevent flooding of the Nyakallong Dam.
Since January 2022, the community has been warning the local and provincial governments that if necessary diversions are not implemented, the dam will burst its banks.
As the rainy season begins, this avoidable crisis must be addressed.
During an inspection of the dam, we discovered that:
- the additional dam in Nyakallong was not built, despite R7,2 m being paid;
- the two water pumps used to divert water from the dam have been inoperable for years; and
- due to leaking pipes, gallons of sewage and clean water have been flowing into the dam.
Flooding has caused damage to several houses in the community.
Many community members have lost their homes to flooding as water levels rise, and many more will be forced to leave as a result. Rising water levels threaten to flood the R30, isolating Allanridge from the rest of the municipality. Communities will be cut off from basic services, work, food, and transportation as a result of the ensuing crisis.
On 12 September, the DA delivered a memorandum to the Office of the Free State Premier, during a water march, with a list of problems and possible solutions relating to the ongoing poor management of water resources in the province.
We will continue to fight for communities’ rights to basic services like clean water, health and safety. The repercussions of poor service delivery and infrastructure neglect are causing a crisis that could have been avoided. Good governance is the only way forward.
