The Moqhaka Local Municipality in the Free State says the water is safe to drink, until samples that have been sent for testing show otherwise. This comes as residents told Health-e News that the tap water has been dirty with a bad smell since Sunday.   

Ishmael Semmaleng, a resident in Dinoheng plans to report the water quality to the South African Human Rights Commission. He blames the municipality for the situation. 

“How do you let this happen? How do you give dirty water to the community?” he says. 

Another resident, Aleta Cowley says water from her tap is dirty with a brownish tint and has a bad smell.

Some residents complained about stomach cramps caused by suspected water contamination. Maokeng Clinic warned residents of increasing numbers of people presenting with stomach cramps after drinking tap water.

Sechaba Mohlale, a clerk at the clinic advises community members to boil the water before use.

“In Maokeng we have already helped 11 patients who had stomach pains,” he adds.

No communication 

Teboho Kgabane, whose child was at the clinic with stomach pains, says the community has been kept in the dark. 

“This is happening to all the areas in Maokeng and Kroonstad. We are in the dark about what we are supposed to do. The municipality and councillors are quiet,” Kgabane says.

Municipal spokesperson Dika Kheswa tells Health-e News that engineers have started investigations. 

“We would like to call for calm among our communities where this is experienced. The mayor has ordered investigations that will have water samples taken and tested for the cause of the discolouration of the water,” Kheswa says.

Pattern of dirty water 

This is not the first time Moqhaka residents faced water quality issues. 

In January 2020, a viral social media video showed residents complaining about finding worms in their tap water. At the time, Kheswa questioned the authenticity of the video, denying any water contamination.

In October 2021 then deputy president, David Mabuza, visited the areas and promised that the issue of water contamination would be resolved by December. The municipality had been affected by the ongoing flow of sewage into the Vaal River. But it does not look like the issue has been resolved. – Health-e News