By: JN Reporter

The embattled Ngwathe Local Municipality has launched a series of interventions to address persistent water challenges that have left many communities without consistent access to clean water.

In response to mounting concerns from frustrated residents in Parys and Tumahole Township over erratic water distribution, the municipality’s technical team - accompanied by Municipal Manager Dr Tseko Mothamaha and led by Director of Technical Services Patricia Morokolo, Water Manager Mokete Phele, Public Safety Manager Polla Chochoe, and Water Operator Moiloa Monyane - undertook urgent action on Monday morning to restore supply.

According to municipal spokesperson Steve Naale, the technical team was dispatched to the local water purification plant on Sunday to improve water quality and ensure the resumption of water distribution.

“The work was completed on Monday. The team found the water quality to be poor, prompting urgent measures such as optimizing the water purification plant,” said Naale.

Naale also revealed that the team had been alerted to tampering incidents involving known individuals interfering with external valves on the water network—an act he described as sabotage.

“These are the same individuals who later film and distribute videos about the situation. The municipality will continue to take legal action against anyone who spreads misleading information about our operations,” he warned.

Despite ongoing interventions, Naale noted that the Parys water treatment plant remains under refurbishment. Several sections of the facility are still non-operational, leaving the plant capable of producing only 10 megalitres of water per day—less than half the daily demand of 22 megalitres required to supply Parys and Tumahole.