R1.4bn Debt Leaves Merafong Residents Scrambling for Dirty Water

Kokosi residents risk disease as taps run dry

Communities in Merafong, on the West Rand, are facing a dire water shortage after the municipality’s staggering R1.4 billion debt to Rand Water left taps dry for more than a month. With water now a scarce and dangerous commodity, residents are forced to collect from roadside drains and trickling pipes, putting themselves at risk of serious infections.

Charles Mbulawa, a Kokosi resident recovering from recent surgery, shared his struggle: “I have to wheel a container long distances for this water, which isn’t even clean. But we have no choice if we want to survive.”

Emma Sizani, along with her granddaughter, has been using an old wheelchair to transport multiple buckets daily. “We use this water for bathing and laundry. For drinking and cooking, we still buy clean water. Our government has failed usthey don’t even communicate when this will be fixed.”

Massive Debt Cripples Service Delivery

The municipality’s financial woes extend beyond water. Merafong owes Eskom R1.6 billion, compounding an already crippling infrastructure crisis.

At a recent council meeting, the enormity of the debt came into sharp focus. With little oversight and a backlog of unpaid bills, municipal services have faltered, leaving thousands of residents to fend for themselves.

Some residents like Jabu Biko rise at 3 a.m. to queue at the communal tap, which flows for just two hours. “We bought a water tank hoping for municipal refills, but when the truck came, they demanded R100. Many simply cannot afford this,” he said.

Schools and Clinics Bear the Brunt

The water shortage has also hit schools hard. At Retlile Primary School, toilets remain inoperable, forcing children to bring water from home. Ntsoaki Khanye, a school governing body member, reported that twelve girls fell ill last month from using unclean facilities.

At Reakgona Primary, classes were dismissed early as a precaution due to insufficient water, leaving students without proper sanitation and hygiene. Teachers are scrambling to clean the few functioning toilets every 30 minutes, while municipal tankers supply only part of the school’s needs.

Municipality Pledges Action

Merafong spokesperson Thabo Moloja acknowledged the crisis and promised a combination of technical fixes and financial recovery measures. “While challenges are significant, we are working with Rand Water and provincial stakeholders to secure both short-term relief and long-term water security,” Moloja said.

Community leaders like Elliot Mthembu, however, remain skeptical. “We’ve tried to get their attention before, but nothing has changed. People are suffering every day because of mismanagement and debt,” he said.

Social Media Reaction

Residents and social media users have voiced outrage over the ongoing crisis, with posts highlighting the indignity of using polluted water and questioning municipal accountability. Many have called for immediate intervention and long-term reforms to prevent further public health disasters.

The Merafong crisis underscores the link between municipal financial mismanagement and public health, raising urgent questions about accountability in local government. The school closures and hospitalizations show that the effects extend far beyond household inconvenience, highlighting a systemic failure affecting the most vulnerable residents.

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com