ActionSA has called for an urgent investigation into allegations that certain councillors in the Nkomazi Local Municipality are profiteering from water supply at the expense of residents.

Communities in Kamaqhekeza, Block C, Dludluma, Ngwenyeni, Naas and Steenbok have been protesting over what they describe as years of neglect, corruption and a failure by the municipality to provide reliable access to water.

Community voices their frustration

Residents of Naas accuse the municipality of colluding with water tanker owners to sabotage the area’s supply. They claim they have been without a consistent water supply for 17 years, while the municipality has remained unresponsive to their concerns.

This frustration boiled over last week as residents took to the streets, blockading the road between Komatipoort and the Mananga Border Post to the Kingdom of Eswatini with stones, tyres and other debris. The action forced schools and shops to close, and reports suggest that about seven villages in the Naas area are affected by the ongoing water crisis.

Residents say they are left with no choice but to purchase water. One community member explained: “I am carrying this bucket because we are starved of water. I am tired of buying water. We are struggling and we don’t know what to do, they are not even entertaining our complaints.”

Another local described the spiralling costs of survival: “We need to pay R500 for water from water tankers. If not, there is no water for you. Now they have hiked the price to R800.”

According to ActionSA, instead of investing in sustainable infrastructure, residents have been left dependent on water tankers. The party alleges that this system has not only proven costly but has created opportunities for corruption.

“ActionSA has been informed of allegations that certain councillors are deliberately withholding access to water in order to sell it back to local residents for profit,” said ActionSA MPL Thoko Mashiane. “If true, this is not only an abuse of public office but also a violation of the constitutional right to water.”

The protests are expected to intensify, with further disruptions anticipated along major routes including Dludluma, Steenbok, Nhlanganeni dust road, Ngwenyeni, Naas and Block C. Bus services along the R571 from Naas to Komatipoort are also likely to be affected.

Mashiane said ActionSA “understands the anger and desperation driving this action”, but appealed for calm. “We urge all stakeholders to ensure that protests remain peaceful and do not endanger lives. The community’s voice is clear: they demand an end to water tanker corruption and a permanent solution to the water crisis.”

Demands for accountability

The party has indicated it will be submitting a formal letter to the Municipal Manager of Nkomazi Local Municipality, demanding answers and accountability. If the municipality fails to respond appropriately, ActionSA says it will escalate the matter to the Public Protector.

The party has also demanded that the municipality and the Mpumalanga Provincial Government urgently provide a clear timeline for infrastructure upgrades, account for all water tanker expenditure, investigate councillors implicated in profiteering, and engage directly with community leaders.

“Access to water is not a privilege — it is a constitutional right,” Mashiane stressed.