Residents of Sand River, an area near Hazyview in the City of Mbombela municipality, continue to live without a reliable municipal water supply despite taps having been installed almost 10 years ago. The municipality said in April it aimed to complete pipe installations after its annual budget and to supply water by July, but community members say that deadline has passed with no change.
Broken promises and conflicting accounts
In April the City of Mbombela spokesperson Joseph Ngala attributed the delay to a shortage of materials in municipal stores and said work would begin once materials were available. Ngala also said the municipality would ensure that water tankers supplied the area weekly until permanent connections were completed.
Residents dispute the municipality's claims. According to community members contacted through the Hazyview Herald, there has been no visible progress on pipe installation and, critically, no tanker deliveries for the past two years. Many households say they are forced to buy water from private suppliers when they can afford it; those without funds collect water from nearby streams.
"We are suffering every day. We have taps, but they have never supplied water," a frustrated resident said. "We have been promised solutions for years, yet nothing changes. We are now forced to buy water or collect it from streams shared with animals."
Health, education and livelihoods at risk
Residents and local observers warn that using unprotected streams for drinking and household use raises serious health concerns, particularly for children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses. The long-running shortage has also affected households' day-to-day functioning and disrupted school routines and local livelihoods.
Without a dependable supply, basic hygiene, food preparation and sanitation are compromised. The cost of purchasing water from private vendors places additional strain on already stretched household budgets.
What the municipality said and what residents experience
The dispute between officials and residents centres on two main claims: the municipality's assurance of weekly tanker deliveries, and the planned completion of pipe installation by July following the budget cycle. Residents say neither has materialised.
| Issue | Municipal statement | Residents' account |
|---|---|---|
| Taps installed | Installed; permanent connection pending materials | Installed ~10 years ago but never supplied reliably |
| Tanker provision | Weekly water tankers to be supplied | No tankers delivered for the past two years, residents say |
| Completion deadline | Planned for July after the annual budget | July passed; no visible progress reported |
Practical concerns and immediate needs
- Health risks: Using surface water exposes households to contamination and waterborne diseases.
- Vulnerable groups: Children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses face heightened risk without safe water.
- Financial strain: Buying water from private suppliers increases household costs.
Community members are calling for urgent, verifiable action from the City of Mbombela: the delivery of promised materials and a clear timetable for completing the pipework and restoring a continuous municipal supply. They also want confirmation and monitoring that temporary measures — such as tanker deliveries — are being implemented as stated by municipal officials.
Wider context
Long-term disruptions to water services are a recurring challenge in parts of Mpumalanga and can exacerbate socioeconomic vulnerabilities in small communities reliant on tourism and agriculture. Reliable water supply is fundamental to household health, school attendance and small-business operation in the Hazyview area.
The City of Mbombela's April explanation — that material shortages delayed work — highlights the logistical constraints municipalities often face, particularly when projects must await budget cycles or supply-chain deliveries. However, residents emphasise that communication and interim relief measures must be consistent and verifiable.
For now, Sand River families continue to find coping mechanisms, ranging from purchasing private water to collecting stream water. Both options carry trade-offs in cost and safety, and the community is pressing municipal leaders to make good on promises and provide a sustainable water solution.
Reporting from Hazyview flagged the community’s concerns; the City of Mbombela's earlier statement is part of the public record. Local residents say they will escalate demands for intervention if tangible progress is not made.
