Drought stricken Free State suffers water shortage

Viljoenskroon in the northern Free State is experiencing a water supply crisis aggravated by drought conditions. The town receives its water from the Rhenoster River which is practically dry, which mean that water must be pumped from the Vaal River.

However Peter Frewen, the Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial spokesperson, says the pumps at the Vaal River are out of order because of a lack of proper maintenance. He says R1 million has been given to the Moqhaka municipality to repair the pumps, but his has still not been done.

Frewen says the Moqhaka municipality has promised to send water tankers to Viljoenskroon to ease the crisis.