Phokwane Local Municipality says a R37 million upgrade project grant will provide a long-term solution to water treatment challenges, responding to concerns about infrastructure failures, worker safety, and water quality compliance.
The response follows a video published by VF Plus councillor Rickus Te Baerts, who raised concerns about the poor state of Hartswater Water Treatment Plant (WTP).
Municipal spokesperson Kgalalelo Letshabo said all sand filter banks at Jan Kempdorp have been replaced to improve water quality.
“For Hartswater, the municipality has embarked on cleaning clarifiers and treatment facilities, with sand filter media replacement under way,” she said.
The municipality has secured R37 million in Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding for upgrading and refurbishing Hartswater WTP. The process is currently at the supply chain stage.
Disputed claims
Addressing concerns about a reportedly broken raw water pump, Letshabo said: “There is no way that a plant can operate without a raw water pump – it is an essential component for the process.” This implied the reports were inaccurate.
Regarding two unused motors, the municipality explained these are backup motors kept for emergencies and “cannot be installed whilst there is one operational”.
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Letshabo confirmed the automatic chlorine dosing mechanism, previously reported as broken, “is fully functional after it was thoroughly cleaned and repaired”.
On the sedimentation dam pump, the municipality said it “is operated manually – it has always been operated manually. It is not automated,” contradicting Te Baerts’ claim that it was broken.
Safety concerns addressed
The municipality acknowledged that additional lights had been requested for the compressor room and claimed the issue “has since been addressed”.
Concerning electrical switch panels described as dangerous, Letshabo explained they “were left open after work was carried out and were later closed”.
The open pump sump cover, cited as a safety hazard, was described as having been “opened for the purpose of inspection”.
Water quality disputes
The municipality disputed several water quality compliance claims. Regarding reports of tapeworms in water streams, it stated residents receive water “through the water treatment process”, not directly from streams.
On complaints about yellow, brown, or dirty water, the municipality described this as “an isolated incident during floods, which was communicated” in an April 2025 statement.
Letshabo said it was “a national problem during the floods” that affected “the colour and not the quality”.
The municipality denied being penalised for failing to issue water quality alert notices, saying it tests “both chemical and microbiological as per standard regulation” and “eColi is 0”.
Service delivery
Addressing reports of residents going without water for extended periods, Letshabo said: “A week cannot go by without water, unless it’s caused by pipe bursts – the turnaround time for repairs is three hours.”
She claimed planned maintenance is communicated beforehand.
The municipality “profusely” denied allegations that backwash water is discharged directly into the ground, stating backwash “is pumped into the sedimentation dam and recycled into raw water storage”.
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Pipeline repairs and power cable issues will be addressed as “part of the refurbishment and upgrading of the treatment plant”.
Urgent repairs are “part of the operational plan budget for this financial year”, she said.
Further inquiries
Letshabo directed inquiries about recent Blue Drop reports, water quality test results, and third-party audit reports to the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Integrated Regulation Information System.
When asked about consequences for officials responsible for infrastructure neglect, she said: “Like any other institution, the municipality has consequences management. It’s between an employer and employee.”
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