Residents of Misgund, a small rural community located in the Langkloof region of the Eastern Cape, are experiencing a severe daily water crisis. This persistent issue significantly impacts the quality of life for the settlement's approximately 500 households. Taps in the area typically provide water for only a limited period each day, from approximately 5pm to 7pm, with additional supply sometimes available for two or three hours over weekends. This intermittent access leaves residents with only a few hours of water availability, noting the critical infrastructure challenges faced by the community. The scarcity of this fundamental resource forces residents to meticulously plan their daily routines around the unpredictable water schedule, often leading to significant hardship.
Daily Struggles and Poor Quality
Misgund, a settlement home to approximately 500 households, faces persistent challenges beyond just intermittent supply, with residents reporting significant issues regarding water quality. Sarah van Rooyen, a local resident, described the water as having a brown colour and an unpleasant taste. She stated that these conditions have been consistent since she moved to the area in 2011. This long-standing problem has become an entrenched part of daily life for the community, forcing residents to adapt to substandard conditions for over a decade. Van Rooyen noted the severity of the situation, telling reporters, "We are struggling. There are times when for two or three days there’s no water." She further emphasized the fundamental nature of the problem, adding, "You can go without food, but not without water." This sentiment reflects the profound impact the water crisis has on the community's well-being and basic human rights.
Official data reflects these concerns, painting a stark picture of the water quality and supply system's deficiencies. Aesthetic compliance, which measures the water's colour, taste, and odour, was recorded at 0%. This alarming figure indicates that the water consistently fails to meet basic aesthetic standards, making it unappealing and often unusable for direct consumption without extensive treatment by residents themselves. Operational compliance, indicating the effectiveness of water treatment and distribution processes, stood at 67.9%. While not zero, this figure suggests significant shortcomings in the day-to-day management and functioning of the water infrastructure. The Minimum Requirement Programme (MRP) compliance, which assesses overall water supply system performance against national standards designed to ensure safe and reliable water services, was reported at a critically low 39.2%. These figures show the systemic issues affecting water provision in the community, pointing to failures across multiple levels of water management and infrastructure maintenance. Van Rooyen also expressed frustration over unfulfilled pledges from local officials. "Every time it’s elections, these people come and give empty promises about how the water issue is going to be fixed, so residents wait for that," she said. "But once you’ve voted and the elections are over, everyone is gone. We don’t see them again and we’re back in the same boat where we started." This sentiment notes a deep-seated distrust among residents, fueled by repeated disappointments and a perceived lack of sustained commitment from authorities. The community feels that their plight is only acknowledged during electoral cycles, with concrete action failing to materialize once votes have been cast.
Broader Municipal Context
Water scarcity is described as "a norm" within the Kou-Kamma Local Municipality, particularly in the Langkloof region where Misgund is situated. This widespread issue affects not only Misgund but also numerous other communities within the municipal area, making it a widespread challenge rather than an isolated incident. Data from Kou-Kamma’s 2025/26 draft annual report indicates that 12,820 households across the municipality receive an adequate water supply, while 873 households fall below the minimum service level for water provision. While the majority of households are reported to have adequate supply, the nearly 900 households falling below the minimum service level represent a significant portion of the population experiencing chronic water insecurity, similar to the residents of Misgund. This disparity shows the uneven distribution of services and the urgent need to uplift those communities that are currently underserved.
To address some of these challenges, Misgund’s bulk water supply underwent an upgrade, funded through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant. This substantial investment was intended to improve the capacity and reliability of the water source for the community. This upgraded plant was officially handed over to the municipality in March 2026, marking a significant milestone in efforts to modernize the region's water infrastructure. Despite these efforts and the completion of the upgrade, the municipality states that approximately R210-million is required to upgrade and maintain all water and sanitation infrastructure across the Kou-Kamma area. This substantial figure reflects the significant investment still needed to ensure consistent and reliable water services throughout the municipality, indicating that the recent upgrade in Misgund is but one step in a much larger, more costly endeavor. The ongoing financial requirements show the systemic nature of the infrastructure challenges extending beyond Misgund to the broader Kou-Kamma region. These challenges encompass not only the physical infrastructure itself, such as pipes, pumps, and treatment plants, but also the operational and maintenance capacities required to keep these systems functioning effectively. The identified need for substantial funding notes the long-term commitment necessary to bring water and sanitation services up to adequate standards for all residents, ensuring public health and socio-economic development. The municipality faces the daunting task of securing and allocating these funds amidst competing priorities, a process that often proves challenging for local governments in resource-constrained regions.
Resident and Official Voices
Residents of Misgund report that securing enough water for basic needs has been a daily struggle since 2011. This long-term crisis has deeply embedded itself into the fabric of daily life, shaping routines and imposing significant burdens on families. Litesia Kiewiets, who moved into her RDP home in 2011, recounted the deterioration of water services, noting that the situation has worsened considerably over the years. "When I grew up, we never struggled like this with water," Kiewiets stated, reflecting on a time when water access was not a daily concern. She added that upon her arrival in 2011, "we had water and it was clean, but as the years went by things just became worse and worse." This personal account provides a poignant testament to the gradual decline in service quality, transforming a once reliable utility into a source of constant stress and health concern. The community has witnessed a steady erosion of a fundamental service, shifting from relative normalcy to a state of chronic deprivation.
Kiewiets described the current situation, saying, "We’re having a hard time here… The tap water is brown. When it rains, we catch the water in containers and store it so we can use it. That’s what we have that’s drinkable." This practice of rainwater harvesting, born out of necessity, notes the desperate measures residents must take to secure potable water, showing the failure of the municipal supply. She further explained her methods for managing the limited supply: "I put this water in the bath for the toilet, so at least there’s water to flush and clean." This careful rationing and repurposing of water illustrate the ingenuity and resilience of the community in the face of adversity, but also the severe limitations placed on their hygiene and sanitation. The lack of reliable, clean tap water forces residents to adopt labor-intensive and often unsanitary alternatives, further compounding their daily struggles.
Official data indicates significant quality issues that pose direct health risks to the community. Over the past 12 months, water tested in Misgund met acute health microbiological standards only 50% of the time, suggesting a frequent risk of contamination with harmful bacteria or other pathogens. This means that for half of the year, the water supply was potentially unsafe for consumption, exposing residents to waterborne diseases. Disinfectant compliance was also recorded at 0%, which means that the water consistently failed to meet standards for disinfection, a critical measure for public health. The absence of effective disinfection mechanisms allows harmful microorganisms to thrive, directly contributing to the poor microbiological compliance and increasing the likelihood of illness among residents. These alarming figures from official reports corroborate the residents' lived experiences, confirming that the water crisis in Misgund is not merely an inconvenience but a significant public health threat. The consistent failure to meet these basic safety standards shows the urgent need for full intervention and sustained investment in the water infrastructure and treatment processes within the community.