Press Statement by Mavin Pillay- DA Councillor Thaba Chweu Local Municipality
- Residents in some parts of Thaba Chweu are subjected to contaminated water, while others are without water.
- Residents are inconvenienced and the municipality is not taking accountability.
- We have asked the Municipal Manager to intervene and devise a solution.
20 July 2026
Release: Immediate
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Thaba Chweu calls on the Municipal Manager, Roy Makwakwa, to urgently present a comprehensive action plan detailing how water outages and water contamination in Sabie and other areas will be resolved.
For the past three weeks, residents of the Sabie have been without consistent water supply. In some parts of Sabie and Graskop this can be attributed to deteriorating infrastructure which has contributed to substantial water losses.
Residents from this area have expressed their dissatisfaction with the water quality as tap water is still brown and full of solids, suggesting that the water is not thoroughly purified or fit for consumption.
This situation is not only unacceptable, but it is also a violation of residents’ constitutional right to access clean, safe drinking water. Our people deserve better than this. They deserve clean water flowing from their taps, not murky water contaminated by unknown substances.
Therefore, it is disturbing to note that the municipality’s water supply system is allegedly failing to produce chemically compliant water.
The municipality’s alleged negligence could lead to an outbreak of waterborne diseases as the quality of water in some parts of Thaba Chweu keeps deteriorating.
The DA reiterates that our focus must be on restoring and maintaining water infrastructure so that water is delivered through proper reservoirs and pipelines ensuring safety, consistency, and dignity for all residents.
It cannot be business as usual while residents of Thaba Chweu are subjected to water that is not microbiologically compliant and poses serious acute health risks. The municipality needs an urgent Water Safety Plan that will ensure that they meet prescribed guidelines of the World Health Organisation.
The DA will continue to fight for clean, reliable water access for every household in Thaba Chweu. We expect Mr Makwakwa to take action and ensure that the safety measures are taken at all times.
For media inquiries: :
Mavin Pillay
DA Councillor Thaba Chweu Local Municipality
073 668 9074