ActionSA Demands Urgent Intervention in Allanridge Water and Sanitation Crisis
Patricia Kopane
ActionSA ActionSA Free State Chairperson
ActionSA is appalled by the continued deterioration of living conditions in Allanridge, a town within the collapsing Matjhabeng Municipality. Despite repeated warnings and the allocation of over R2.2 billion for water infrastructure repairs, the people of Allanridge remain abandoned to face a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions.
In January 2025, E. coli contamination was confirmed in Allanridge’s main water reservoir, exposing residents to serious health risks. Months later, no meaningful progress has been made to restore safe and clean water. Residents are still forced to collect water from unsafe sources, placing their lives, especially those of children and the elderly, at extreme risk.
Equally disturbing is the situation in Nyakallong, where raw sewage floods RDP houses, some of which have been washed away into the Voëlpan pan. Despite the Free State provincial government and Matjhabeng Municipality being fully aware of this disaster, they have done nothing. The silence from those entrusted with public service is both shameful and unconstitutional.
The closure of Bophelong Clinic further aggravates the crisis, stripping the community of basic healthcare during a time when disease risk is at its highest. The people of Allanridge have been utterly failed by a system plagued by corruption, mismanagement, and complete disregard for human dignity.
ActionSA demands:
Immediate provincial intervention under Section 139 of the Constitution, with a competent administrator appointed to oversee water, sanitation, and health services in Allanridge.
A full-scale forensic audit into the R2.2 billion infrastructure budget to determine why no repairs have occurred.
The reopening of Bophelong Clinic, with emergency health services deployed to Allanridge within 7 days.
Legal accountability for all municipal and provincial officials whose inaction contributed to this public health emergency.
We will also escalate this matter to the Office of the Auditor-General and Public Protector, and ensure Parliament is seized with the crisis as a matter of national importance.
ActionSA will not stand by while poor communities are left to live in filth and die in silence.
ActionSA Demands Urgent Intervention in Allanridge Water and Sanitation Crisis
ActionSA is appalled by the continued deterioration of living conditions in Allanridge, a town within the collapsing Matjhabeng Municipality. Despite repeated warnings and the allocation of over R2.2 billion for water infrastructure repairs, the people of Allanridge remain abandoned to face a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions.
In January 2025, E. coli contamination was confirmed in Allanridge’s main water reservoir, exposing residents to serious health risks. Months later, no meaningful progress has been made to restore safe and clean water. Residents are still forced to collect water from unsafe sources, placing their lives, especially those of children and the elderly, at extreme risk.
Equally disturbing is the situation in Nyakallong, where raw sewage floods RDP houses, some of which have been washed away into the Voëlpan pan. Despite the Free State provincial government and Matjhabeng Municipality being fully aware of this disaster, they have done nothing. The silence from those entrusted with public service is both shameful and unconstitutional.
The closure of Bophelong Clinic further aggravates the crisis, stripping the community of basic healthcare during a time when disease risk is at its highest. The people of Allanridge have been utterly failed by a system plagued by corruption, mismanagement, and complete disregard for human dignity.
ActionSA demands:
We will also escalate this matter to the Office of the Auditor-General and Public Protector, and ensure Parliament is seized with the crisis as a matter of national importance.
ActionSA will not stand by while poor communities are left to live in filth and die in silence.