Residents welcome national water programme but say it should have come decades earlier

Hammanskraal residents have expressed strong support for the new National Water Access Acceleration Programme, while community leaders warned the intervention arrived far too late. The programme, unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina on Saturday to coincide with Mandela Day, includes the rollout of 67 boreholes and the commissioning of the Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant.

Apology from Tshwane mayor during oversight visit

Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya apologised to Hammanskraal residents for delays in providing clean, drinkable water during an oversight visit to the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant and the Klipdrift water package plant.

Programme aims and government statements

The National Water Access Acceleration Programme was launched as an initiative to deliver “practical, sustainable and fit-for-purpose water solutions to rural and historically underserved communities,” according to the launch. Speaking during the event, President Ramaphosa said the programme would help resolve the longstanding water crisis in the area and described water as “the top priority in our government system.”

“We have now elevated water as the top priority in our government system. We have set up a committee, and this is one committee that I am working alongside all the stakeholders. Having done the package, I am pleased to hear that we are now going ahead with the reticulation of water into the taps and the homes of our people.” President Cyril Ramaphosa

Minister Pemmy Majodina said the government’s action plan was showing results, noting that the Water Action Plan had been declared a crisis and that government entities and budgets were being aligned to serve underserved communities.

“The Water Action Plan established by President Cyril Ramaphosa was declared a crisis. We have called all our entities to come together with us, and we have arranged our budget to serve underserved communities.” Minister Pemmy Majodina

Community response: praise tempered by anger

Community organisations welcomed the intervention but emphasised that it addressed long-standing failures. Speaking on behalf of Soil of Africa, King Bongani Ramontja said the initiative should have been delivered decades ago and described access to clean water as a fundamental human right.

“However, we refuse to applaud what should have been delivered decades ago. Access to clean water is not a privilege handed out by government; it is a fundamental human right guaranteed to every citizen. The tragedy of Hammanskraal is a painful reminder of institutional failure.” King Bongani Ramontja

King Ramontja said families had been forced to bury loved ones as a result of the water crisis and that communities had endured years of contaminated water and dignity-eroding conditions. He added that the launch of boreholes “cannot erase more than three decades of neglect” and that township communities are often remembered only when public pressure or elections demand attention.

Background and implementation partners

Last year, Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya said the project was being implemented by Magalies Water and funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Residents have long complained about water quality, an issue that worsened after a deadly cholera outbreak in 2023 that claimed dozens of lives.

What happens next

The launch signals the start of work to reticulate water into homes in Hammanskraal through borehole rollouts and the Klipdrift plant commissioning. Officials at the launch framed these steps as part of broader efforts to address water insecurity in rural and historically underserved areas.