Ngwathe Municipality Commits to Fast-Tracking Vredefort Water Plant Upgrades

Ngwathe Municipality has committed to fast-tracking Vredefort Water Plant upgrades.

The Ngwathe Local Municipality has promised to speed up upgrades at the Vredefort Water Treatment Plant after an oversight visit highlighted ongoing issues. This comes after residents in Vredefort and Mokwallo have faced water supply problems for six months, made worse by recent floods and pump breakdowns. The visit, held on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, was led by Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament Karabo Khakhau, along with councillors Brendan Olivier, Small Sehume, and Chris Dalton. They checked if the plant has the right setup, works well, follows health and safety rules, and provides clean drinking water to everyone.

During the check, some good changes over the past six months were noted, like better day-to-day running. But key problems still need fixing to meet the rules set by the Constitution and laws. These include getting emergency kits ready, putting in full health and safety steps, adding strong fences around the plant with gates, locks, and lights, fixing and improving pumps, filtration systems, the generator, and tools to measure water, and cleaning up the whole site. Without these, the plant cannot work at its best, and people might not get safe water all the time.

Municipal Manager Dr F.P. Mothamaha joined the visit and gave a strong promise to sort out these gaps. He said the municipality will make the plant’s growth a top item in its work and upkeep plans. “Water is the base for community health and money-making activities. We are set on making sure every home in Ngwathe gets high-quality water that meets country standards,” he explained. This means they plan to update old equipment like pumps, pipes, and filters, improve safety rules by buying safety kits, hiring officers for safety checks, and fixing up fences, gates, locks, and entry points.

The oversight was part of Parliament’s job to watch how local governments deliver services. Khakhau thanked the municipality for being open to work together and improve things. She stressed that getting clean water is a right in the Constitution and a must for public health. “We will keep a close eye on how things move forward at this plant,” said Olivier, showing the DA’s plan to follow up.

To understand the full picture, the Vredefort plant treats water from nearby sources before sending it to homes and businesses. But floods earlier this year damaged parts like pumps, leading to breaks in supply. This left many without steady clean water, raising health worries like sickness from dirty water. Mokwallo, a township near Vredefort, has been hit hard, with some areas using tankers for water. The municipality has fixed some bits, like basic repairs to get things running again, but bigger upgrades are needed for long-term fixes.

These changes will help make sure the plant runs without stops, meets clean water rules, and serves more people as the area grows. For example, better pumps and filters will clean water faster and safer, while good fences and lights will stop damage or theft. Emergency kits will be there for quick fixes if something goes wrong, and safety officers will check that workers follow rules to avoid accidents.

People in the area have welcomed the promise but want quick action. Past calls for help have led to some work, like short-term fixes, but full upgrades have been slow due to money limits. Now, with this focus, the municipality aims to use its budget better for these jobs. This fits with wider Free State efforts to improve water services, where many places face old pipes and short supplies.

🔴Central News Special Edition | Issue 114 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition  | Headline: President Cyril Ramaphosa Fires Nobuhle Nkabane as Higher Education Minister, Appoints Buti Manamela

Download Here:

Direct PDF File Here:

https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Central-News-Issue-114-1.pdf

Read all our publications on magzter:

https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues

Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content,  Podcasts , Radio / Social Media Simulcast, Video Production , Live Streaming Services, Press Conferences, and Paid Interviews (Video/Audio) etc.

We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment.

Advertisement:

To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za

For Business Related:
business@centralnews.co.za

Newsroom:
Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za

General Info:
info@centralnews.co.za