By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Tensions flared during a QwaQwa council sitting on 8 May as Councillor Shashapa Motaung raised concerns over the accuracy of reports related to the ongoing water crisis in Makwane.
Motaung, a resident of the affected area, questioned the credibility of previous explanations provided to the council, particularly claims that a generator had been procured to ensure continued water supply during power outages.
“We were told the Municipal Manager signed off a deviation to procure a generator so that water supply would not be disrupted. But as someone who lives in Makwane, I can tell you—that’s not true. When there is no electricity, there is no water,” Motaung stated. “I demand a proper written report, because what we are being told does not reflect the reality on the ground.”
However, Municipal Manager Motsoahae Mofokeng firmly denied the claim.
“There was no deviation. Councillors must ensure they have accurate facts before making such statements,” Mofokeng responded.
He clarified that the municipality had instead purchased a second mechanical pump from Germany to support the area’s only working pump. “As a hands-on official, I am fully aware of the Makwane situation. The second pump took three weeks to arrive, but I believe water will be restored to the area by tomorrow,” he added.
Executive Mayor Malekula Melato urged councillors to be mindful in how they frame procurement issues.
“When councillors repeatedly refer to ‘deviations,’ it creates the perception that the municipality is doing something illegal,” Melato said.
“Deviation is not inherently wrong—it just needs to be properly justified. But it does suggest poor planning, particularly in service delivery.”
Council Speaker Mandlenkosi Dlamini concluded the debate by instructing the Municipal Manager to submit a detailed written report on the Makwane water situation to the council without delay.
The matter remains critical for Makwane residents, who have endured weeks of disrupted water supply, and for councillors calling for greater transparency and accountability in municipal operations.
