Fezile Dabi District Municipality Challenges City Press Over Borehole Project Report
By Thabo Mosia
The Fezile Dabi District Municipality has issued a strong rebuttal to a recent City Press article titled “Free State municipality pays R6m for six boreholes that can’t be accounted for,” published on 9 March 2025. In a media release dated 10 March 2025, the municipality refuted the claims made in the article and provided detailed clarifications to address the allegations of mismanagement and financial irregularities in its borehole project.
Municipality Sets the Record Straight on Borehole Project
In its official statement, the Fezile Dabi District Municipality dismissed the City Press report as misleading, factually incorrect, and damaging. The municipality asserted that the borehole project was fully accounted for and had achieved significant progress.
According to the statement, the municipality has drilled 12 boreholes and equipped 9 of them, reaching a completion rate of 91% as of 7 March 2025—not 6 boreholes, as falsely claimed in the City Press article.
The project was initiated to address water shortages in Tweeling and Mafahlaneng, particularly in anticipation of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel closure, which is expected to impact bulk water distribution in the Free State.
Project Execution and Transparency
Contrary to the claims made in the City Press article, the Fezile Dabi District Municipality provided a detailed breakdown of the project’s milestones, showing steady progress:
✅ Site Establishment: 100% complete
✅ Drilling of Boreholes: 100% complete
✅ Water Quality Testing & Borehole Development: 100% complete
✅ Pump-Houses: 100% complete
✅ Pipeline Installation: 100% complete
✅ Borehole Ancillaries (pumps, pipes, etc.): 100% complete
✅ Electrical Installation (poles, MV Lines, transformers): 100% complete
The municipality categorically denied allegations that no boreholes were dug or that the tender was awarded without identifying borehole locations.
“The project locations were explicitly identified, with each borehole having GPS coordinates. The claim that locations were unknown is false and misleading,”the municipality stated.
Financial Integrity and Cost Breakdown
City Press alleged that R6 million was spent on six boreholes that were not accounted for, but Fezile Dabi Municipality firmly disputed this, providing an accurate financial breakdown:
• Total Project Cost:R6.4 million
• Amount Paid as of 31 December 2024:R2.9 million
• Scope of Payments:Includes physical construction and consulting fees
• Final Completion Status:91%
The municipality clarified that the project is not over budgetand that expenditure is verified by the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) before any payments are made.
“This project follows a cost-reimbursement model, ensuring that every cent spent is justified and accounted for,”the municipality explained.
Denial of Corruption Claims Against Municipal Manager
The City Press article also made allegations against Fezile Dabi District Municipal Manager, Sipho Thomas, claiming that a borehole was illegally drilled at his private property in Parys using municipal funds.
The municipality has firmly rejected these claims, describing them as false, defamatory, and an attempt to tarnish the reputation of both Thomas and the institution.
“Mr. Thomas has served diligently and has executed his obligations within the framework of municipal supply chain management processes. There is no evidence to support claims that a borehole was drilled at his personal residence,”the municipality asserted.
The allegations of fraud, corruption, and perjury leveled against Thomas were previously addressed by the University of Fort Hare and the Office of the Auditor-General, both of which provided clarifications on the matter.
Political Undercurrents and the DA Connection
The City Press report referred to the Fezile Dabi District Municipality as DA-led, which the municipality found to be a misrepresentation of governance dynamics in the area.
Political sources suggest that the timing of the allegations and media coverage may be politically motivated, as the municipality has been a strong proponent of infrastructure development and has been implementing projects that benefit communities in historically neglected areas.
“We call on the media to report responsibly and verify facts before publishing damaging and libellous falsehoods. The residents of Fezile Dabi deserve accurate information and a municipality focused on their needs, not sensationalised narratives,”the statement read.
Context: Water Challenges in Fezile Dabi and South Africa
The Free State province, including Fezile Dabi, has been grappling with severe water shortages. Many municipalities across South Africa have resorted to drilling boreholes to supplement water supply, particularly in areas with aging infrastructure or limited bulk water access.
Recently, Sasol donated three boreholes to Metsimaholo Local Municipality and the Free State Department of Health to alleviate water scarcity in Deneysville. These boreholes were fitted with solar-powered pumps and water filtration systems. (Source)
The Department of Water and Sanitation has also emphasized the need for borehole drilling regulation, requiring borehole owners to register their boreholes and apply for water use licensesif they exceed specified abstraction limits. (Source)
Municipality Invites City Press to Verify Borehole Project
To demonstrate transparency, the Fezile Dabi District Municipality has invited City Press and other interested parties to visit the borehole sites in Tweeling and Mafahlaneng.
The municipality also challenged City Press to correct its reporting and provide balanced coverage, instead of sensationalising an issue that is critical to service delivery.
“The borehole project is a testament to our commitment to providing water security for our communities. We remain open to scrutiny and invite media to engage with facts rather than distortions,”the municipality stated.
Wider Context: Water Woes and Governance
This dispute comes as South Africa braces for water supply disruptions from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel closure in 2025. Fezile Dabi’s borehole initiative is a proactive step to shield Tweeling/Mafahlaneng from this crisis, making City Press’s allegations particularly disruptive. A recent Central News South Africa report (5 March 2025) noted the municipality’s adjusted 2024/2025 budget adoption on 25 February 2025, reflecting sound planning.
Meanwhile, broader governance challenges persist. The Special Investigating Unit’s probe into corruption at Alfred Nzo District Municipality (IOL, 1 February 2025) highlights national concerns, but Fezile Dabi insists its project stands apart, rooted in transparency and delivery.
Voices from the Community
For Tweeling/Mafahlaneng residents, the borehole project is a lifeline. Local farmer Thandi Ndlovu said, “Water is everything to us. If these boreholes work, that’s what matters—not newspaper fights.” But doubts linger, with shop owner Joseph Molefe noting, “We hear corruption stories all the time. I just want to see the taps running.”
The municipality’s invitation to the handover meeting aims to address such concerns, offering a public reckoning of the project’s success.
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