A Town in Crisis: Hartswater’s Struggle with Infrastructure and Governance
Once a proud agricultural hub at the heart of the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme, the Northern Cape town of Hartswater is now a stark example of infrastructure failure, mismanagement, and neglect. These issues are increasingly defining towns across South Africa, and Hartswater serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when governance fails.
Historical Background and Decline
Hartswater was established in 1948 and became a municipality in 1960. Built to serve a much smaller population, its infrastructure has not kept pace with growth. Decades later, the cracks are no longer hidden—they are gushing into the streets, quite literally.
Residents say the town has been deteriorating for years, with only reactive and partial fixes applied when systems fail, and little to no forward planning or expansion of services. Nowhere is this more evident than in the town’s water supply.
Water Supply Woes
According to Freedom Front Plus (FF+) councillor Rickus Te-Baerts, concerns about water quality began surfacing as early as 2019. Residents reported dirty, foul-smelling water, with some even finding green slime and worms in their taps. In 2020, following mounting complaints, the municipality cleaned the flocculation and sand filtration systems. A maintenance plan was reportedly handed to the municipality by contractors, but Te-Baerts claims it was never implemented.
“The sand filtration system now looks like cement blocks because it is not functioning as it should,” he said.
By 2022, entire sections of Hartswater were left without water over weekends. Investigations revealed that vandals were tampering with valves, causing pressure build-up and pipe bursts. In response, community members donated materials and labour to secure the infrastructure. However, theft and vandalism is only part of the problem.
By 2025 and into 2026, the situation has worsened. Te-Baerts says the purification plant can only pump clean water for short periods due to the sump clogging with sand. As a result, higher-lying areas such as Korhaan Crescent can go without water for up to a week. He added that the sand has to be cleaned manually.
Across the town, burst pipes have become a daily reality, as seen on a recent visit to Hartswater. When repairs are carried out, they are often temporary and poorly executed due to a lack of materials such as proper clamps. In many cases, pipes are patched with tyre tubes and wire, only to burst again shortly afterwards.
While major failures are sometimes addressed quickly, smaller leaks can persist for days or even weeks, wasting water and further straining the already fragile system.
Audit Findings Expose Deeper Crisis
Findings from the Auditor-General’s 2023–2024 report further expose the depth of the crisis. The report, presented to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, shows that Phokwane Municipality failed to spend 10% of its infrastructure grant, while water losses stand at 67% and electricity losses at 60% of total consumption.
National norms are significantly lower, ranging between 15% and 30% for water, and 7% to 10% for electricity. In monetary terms, this translates to more than R50 million spent without generating corresponding revenue.
The report attributes the crisis directly to years of infrastructure decay and serious management failures. It also highlights that the water purification plant is not functioning properly due to a lack of skilled operators—a concern echoed by residents and observers.
During a recent visit to the purification plant, Te-Baerts said he was shocked to find onion bags filled with chlorine pellets hanging in the water as a method of treatment.
Municipal Response and Plans
Responding to these concerns, Phokwane municipal manager Zithulele Nikani acknowledged the severity of the situation but said the figures require context.
“The municipality acknowledges that water losses are currently high. However, these losses exclude consumption from villages in the Dr Ruth Mompati area because the service level agreement is still being finalised,” said Nikani.
He added that once this consumption is included, non-revenue water drops to around 37%. The municipality is engaging with the Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality to resolve billing and formalise the agreement.
Nikani said further interventions are planned, including the installation of smart water meters in Pampierstad and other unmetered areas in the new financial year to better manage consumption and losses.
On water quality, he maintained that the municipality’s supply is safe.
“The municipality confirms that water in Phokwane is safe to drink,” he said, adding that improvements had already been made at key facilities.
Upgrades at the Jan Kempdorp Water Treatment Plant include the replacement of filter sand, installation of new nozzles and repairs to mechanical equipment. At the Hartswater Water Treatment Works, a technical assessment has secured R37 million in Municipal Infrastructure Grant funding, with a refurbishment tender currently at the service provider appointment stage.
Nikani said the municipality is working from a comprehensive bulk water technical assessment completed between 2022 and 2023, which identified critical needs such as pipe replacement, reservoir upgrades and bulk metering installation.
“A structured plan is in place to address these issues, aiming to improve water supply reliability and reduce disruptions,” he said.
Addressing concerns over transparency, Nikani stated that water treatment facilities are classified as critical infrastructure, and that media and oversight bodies are required to schedule appointments with facility managers to ensure accurate information and proper guidance during visits.
He acknowledged that a shortage of technical skills is hampering progress. To address this, the municipality has budgeted for key appointments, including a water and sanitation manager and two project management unit technicians to strengthen oversight and implementation.
Financial Distress and Governance Failures
Despite these assurances, financial records paint a picture of deep distress. According to the municipality’s Section 72 mid-year budget and performance assessment report, total trade creditors stood at over R550 million by the end of December 2025, with most invoices older than 120 days.
Bulk suppliers, particularly Eskom and water boards, account for the largest portion of this debt. While payment arrangements and national debt relief programmes are in place, historical arrears remain substantial.
The report highlights that weak revenue collection, sitting at just 63 percent, continues to undermine the municipality’s ability to meet its obligations. Outstanding debtor balances have climbed to nearly R1.5 billion, severely limiting cash flow and the ability to maintain infrastructure.
Although some payments have been made to key suppliers in recent months, and efforts are under way to stabilise accounts, the municipality remains under significant financial pressure.
Audit findings have also pointed to governance failures, including poor internal controls and ongoing compliance issues.
Water safety has also been questioned. In the past, the town’s open reservoir was reportedly accessible, with foreign objects found in the water and even reports of people swimming in treated water. Although access points have since been secured, concerns about system integrity persist.
A 2022 Green Drop Progress Report classified the municipality’s water system as being at a critical risk level of 100%—a rating that, according to Te-Baerts, has not improved.
During a recent visit, access to the purification plant was denied due to the unavailability of a municipal official. However, even an external inspection revealed a troubling picture. The main pipeline supplying the town is insufficient in size and patched with multiple clamps, many of which are visibly leaking.
It is a system under strain and, by all accounts, lacking the technical expertise required to maintain it.
Impact on Residents
For residents, the impact is deeply personal.
In areas such as Voëltjie Dorp, low water pressure and frequent pipe bursts have made basic activities like bathing and washing a challenge. Those who can afford it have installed JoJo tanks, often with additional pumps to compensate for poor pressure.
One resident explained how they had to install two tanks at different levels just to maintain water flow in their home.
In Korhaan Crescent, the situation is even more dire. Residents regularly go without water for extended periods, raising serious health concerns, particularly for vulnerable residents such as those at Huis Theresa Old Age Home.
A resident, Jurie, described the water as undrinkable.
“It smells like fish. We have to treat it ourselves. Women are getting infections from bathing in it, and there is always a stomach bug going around,” he said.
A Warning Beyond Hartswater
The reality in Hartswater is not unique.
In the Northern Cape and across South Africa, municipalities are grappling with ageing infrastructure, financial mismanagement and a critical shortage of skilled personnel. Maintenance is often neglected, planning is inadequate, and procurement processes are plagued by inflated costs and inefficiencies.
While Phokwane Municipality has outlined plans to stabilise the system, residents continue to live with the daily consequences of years of neglect.
Hartswater stands as a clear warning of what happens when governance fails and infrastructure is left to decay. For its residents, the crisis is not theoretical—it is in every dry tap, every burst pipe, and every drop of water that cannot be trusted.
Unless decisive action is taken to restore competence, accountability and investment in local government, Hartswater’s crisis may soon be mirrored in towns across the province—and beyond.
