Secunda – The Govan Mbeki Municipality, located in the Gert Sibande District, Mpumalanga, is sounding the alarm about empty reservoirs as the water crisis worsens.
For weeks, the water crisis has plagued the municipality with no end in sight.
Today, Monday 10 August 2026, the cash-strapped municipality laid bare the water crisis in a notice.
Govan Mbeki Municipality provides the following water supply update across all three regions:
Region 1
Reservoir levels:
* Bethal Rand Reservoir – 5%
* Extension 5 Reservoir – Empty
* Extension 4 Reservoir – 58%
* Van Heerden Reservoir – Empty
Affected areas: Extension 3, Extension 8, Extension 11 and surrounding farms.
One water tanker is being deployed to supply affected areas and farms.
Region 2
* Eendracht Reservoir – Bypassed, supplying the community directly
* Lebohang RDP – 90%
* Leandra – 80%
* Kinross Town – 100%
* Thistle Grove – Bypassed
* Evander Reservoir – 90%
* Secunda Reservoir – Bypassed, supplying the community directly
* Trichardt Reservoir – 100%
One water tanker is supplying farms.
Region 3
* Adullam Reservoir – 100%
* Embalenhle Extension 15 – 45%
* Charl Cilliers – 55%
One water cart will be dispatched to farms and affected areas.
The municipality said it continues to monitor reservoir levels and water supply conditions across all regions.
Earlier this year, the Govan Mbeki Municipality tabled a draft 2026/27 Medium-Term Revenue & Expenditure Framework that lays bare a municipality under acute financial stress.
The document, prepared in line with MFMA and National Treasury guidance, shows rising costs, shrinking capital investment and a funding shortfall that threatens service delivery and legal compliance.
