In an effort to deal with water shortage challenges in Madibeng and Rustenburg, North West Premier, Prof. Tebogo Job Mokgoro accompanied by MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mmoloki Cwaile met with representatives from mining giants such as Impala, Samancor and Sibanyi, as well as the leadership of Madibeng in Brits.

According to Brian Setswambung, spokesperson for the Office of the Premier, the purpose of the meeting was to come up with a workable plan of dealing with water crisis in affected areas in the municipal districts.

Mokgoro and Cwaile also met with representatives of the affected areas to update them on efforts that government is making to resolve the water challenges.

“As part of the immediate intervention, the communities are getting Jojo tanks and tankering services. Sibanyi mine will also increase the water pressure to Segwaelane”. Drilling of boreholes and rehabilitation of the existing ones were also discussed, as well as illegal connections that reduces water pressure.

Cwaile called on municipalities to work with mining houses around their areas to assist the community to get water.

The Premier promised affected communities a speedy resolution to their challenges and said that a permanent solution will be to replace ageing asbestos pipes with proper PVC pipes to reduce water wastage through leaks and illegal connections.