16 000 litres donated as Nxuba battles ongoing water cuts

DA delivers 16 000 litres of water to Nxuba amid ongoing supply failures

Nxuba (Cradock) — The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape has delivered 16 000 litres of potable water to the water-scarce community of Hillside in Nxuba, as residents continue to endure prolonged interruptions to their municipal water supply.

The water donation took place on Thursday, 29 January 2026, during a visit by DA Eastern Cape Provincial Leader Andrew Whitfield MP, who was accompanied by DA EC Midlands Constituency Leader Heinrich Müller MPL and local DA councillors.

According to the DA, the intervention was aimed at providing immediate relief to residents who have gone days, weeks, and in some cases months without consistent access to running potable water.

Residents rely on water trucks amid prolonged shortages

Hillside residents have long complained about unreliable water provision, forcing households to depend heavily on municipal water tankers that operate intermittently.

The Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality (IYLM) receives bulk water services from the Chris Hani District Municipality, which is responsible for water treatment and distribution in the area.

The DA says failures at district level have resulted in communities such as Hillside bearing the brunt of ongoing infrastructure breakdowns, insufficient maintenance, and delayed responses to water outages.

DA leadership engages community on service delivery challenges

Following the water donation, Whitfield and the DA delegation held a street meeting with residents to provide feedback on what the party describes as the systemic failures within the Chris Hani District Municipality and the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality.

The DA stated that the engagement formed part of its broader campaign to highlight service delivery challenges in the Eastern Cape, particularly those affecting access to basic services such as water and sanitation.

“The people of Nxuba deserve a government that will fight for their fundamental right to access water,” the DA said in a statement.

ANC members reportedly cross political lines

The DA further claimed that during additional street meetings held in Ward 1 and Ward 4, a number of ANC members joined the DA, citing frustration with what the party described as “failing governance” in the municipality.

While no official response had been issued by the ANC at the time of publication, the DA characterised the move as a sign of growing dissatisfaction among residents with the current state of service delivery in Nxuba.

Call for improved water governance in the Eastern Cape

The water crisis in Nxuba forms part of a wider challenge facing several municipalities across the Eastern Cape, where ageing infrastructure, financial constraints, and governance concerns have contributed to persistent service delivery disruptions.

The DA reiterated its call for improved oversight, maintenance of water infrastructure, and accountability at both local and district municipal levels.

“Together we can get the Eastern Cape working again,” the party said.