The Makana Local Municipality in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, is facing renewed calls for accountability after a R2.6 million water pump, critical for the town’s water supply, went missing three years ago. Despite the payment having been made to a private supplier, the pump has never been delivered, and the municipality has yet to provide a clear explanation.
The pump was intended for the Howieson’s Poort water treatment facility, which ideally requires three operational pumps but currently functions with only one. In 2022, one of the existing pumps was reportedly removed for servicing and has not been seen since. It remains unclear whether the missing pump is the same one or a separate replacement that was never delivered.
The matter has led to legal and political fallout. A former director of infrastructural services, who authorized the payment, was dismissed in 2023 but later awarded compensation after challenging the dismissal. However, no official determination has been made regarding the whereabouts of the pump or whether the payment was legitimate.
Local civic groups and oversight bodies have struggled to obtain clear answers. Applications for public records and direct inquiries have been met with limited or vague responses. Concerns have been raised about the municipality’s overall control and tracking of its water infrastructure assets.
A local councillor has filed formal corruption and fraud charges against senior municipal officials, alleging violations of financial regulations and demanding criminal accountability. The case has since been referred to the national investigative unit.
Residents of Makhanda have faced chronic water shortages for over a decade, due to ageing infrastructure, mismanagement, and periodic droughts. The pump issue has heightened public frustration amid ongoing concerns about the quality and reliability of the town’s water supply.
The municipality has not issued any formal statements addressing the missing pump or responding to public demands for transparency and restitution. Legal action to recover the lost funds is reportedly limited by a three-year statutory deadline, which is rapidly approaching.