“After 16 years and hundreds of millions of rand spent, residents continue to face recurring water interruptions and prolonged shutdowns. The latest planned 72-hour shutdown began on 12 August 2026 for further civil, mechanical and electrical work at the treatment plant. However, water was only restored on 16 August,” said Madibeng DA councillor Johan Pieterse.
The Brits Water Treatment Works upgrade has been ongoing since 2010, when it was initially budgeted at R380 million. Due to project delays, the cost escalated to R845 million. By September 2023, approximately R693.18 million had already been spent, yet the project remained incomplete.
“Official Magalies Water documentation presented to Parliament records that the project was intended to refurbish and upgrade the existing Brits Water Treatment Works.
Increase treatment capacity from 60 megalitres per day to 80 megalitres per day, upgrade the raw-water pump station and pipeline, improve treatment processes, upgrade distribution infrastructure to the bulk reservoirs, and ultimately benefit approximately 75,373 households,” Pieterse said.
Successive completion deadlines have also been missed, including targets for November 2023, August 2025 and March 2026.
“Residents want to know why the 2010 project has not been completed, how the cost has escalated from R380 million to R845 million, and why successive completion deadlines have been missed.”
“The DA will formally pursue these questions with Madibeng Local Municipality and the relevant authorities,” he said.
