- Moretele Local Municipality receives a new concrete reservoir ending years of water scarcity.
- Government leaders emphasize water’s role in health, dignity, and economic opportunity.
- Initiative is part of a broader R940 billion infrastructure investment to uplift communities.
For the impoverished people of Moretele in the North West province, 1 August 2025 marked a turning point in their long battle with Moretele water problems. For years, communities have struggled with inconsistent and insufficient water supply, often going days without access to this most basic necessity.
As South Africa ushers in Women’s Month 2025, Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina, together with Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgotsi, officially handed over a new concrete water reservoir to the municipality.
The reservoir is set to serve more than 20 wards, supplying clean, reliable water to thousands of households long plagued by Moretele water problems and scarcity. Many residents depend heavily on government grants through the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) or rely on informal jobs for survival. For these families, the difference between having water or going without is a matter of health, dignity, and the possibility of economic advancement.
The initiative reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to improving municipal service delivery, particularly in underserved and vulnerable communities. The municipality aims to support the well-being and economic development of the Moretele area by addressing chronic water shortages that have hampered daily life and limited opportunity.
Before the reservoir was allocated, community members experienced frequent days without water, making even simple tasks like cooking, cleaning, and personal hygiene a daily challenge. Their overwhelming gratitude for this new infrastructure underscores how vital it is to their lives.
Building on this momentum, during Mandela Month, smaller reservoirs were handed over to several villages around Moretele, providing immediate relief and supporting water access in more remote areas. These efforts demonstrate a coordinated, community-centred approach to tackling water scarcity.
Leadership driving real change for communities
Majodina emphasised that “reliable water services are a foundation for a better life. This is about restoring hope, protecting health, and creating the conditions for economic growth.” Her words resonate deeply in a community where water insecurity has for so long been a barrier to progress.
Mayor George Manyike spoke candidly about the municipality’s persistent challenges with Moretele water problems. Residents often endured days without water, a hardship that affected schools, clinics, businesses, and households alike. “From now on, our water challenge is history,” he said, highlighting the municipality’s achievement of over 99% service delivery performance and three consecutive unqualified audit opinions, a testament to effective governance despite the hurdles.
Mashatile framed the reservoir handover as a beacon of hope and a model for nationwide change. Aligning with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to reduce water shortages across South Africa, he stated, “Water is life. When we deliver it, we empower communities to thrive, whether for farming, business, or children to drink safely at home.” His remarks remind us that infrastructure investment must always translate into real improvements in people’s daily lives.
Water as a foundation for dignity and opportunity
The impact of solving Moretele water problems is most profoundly felt by residents themselves. Grandmother Anna Mphahlele shared her emotional experience: “I have carried buckets for decades. Now my grandchildren will grow up with water in the house. That is freedom to me,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
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