Tylden Residents Left Without Water for Six Weeks Amid Service Collapse

Residents of Tylden, a small town near Komani in the Chris Hani Municipality, have been without running water for more than six weeks, sparking growing frustration over what locals describe as a total collapse of basic service delivery.

According to residents, the water crisis began after the copper wiring at the local pump station was vandalised, disrupting supply to large parts of the town. Since then, conflicting stories have emerged about the state of the water infrastructure — some claim the pump has not been repaired, while others believe it was never replaced after the theft.

Despite multiple reports to the Chris Hani District Municipality’s Water Services Department, residents say they have received no clear feedback or reference numbers confirming their complaints.

“We have tanks, but they’re virtually dry. One section of the town has water, but the village area has been without for weeks,” said one resident, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons.

Six Weeks Without Relief

The water outage has left many families dependent on rainwater tanks and occasional access to the mission tank, a private rainwater storage system maintained by a local mission that allows the community to collect water during outages. However, residents report that even this tank has now run dry.

The Chris Hani District Municipality, which is responsible for water provision, was contacted for comment. At the time of publication, no official response had been received.

Refuse and Sewage Problems Add to the Crisis

The water shortage is just one of several service delivery issues plaguing Tylden. Residents have also raised concerns about refuse collection, illegal dumping, and sewage leaks in and around the town.

“There’s no refuse removal at all,” a resident explained. “Everyone just dumps rubbish wherever they feel like. Our road was last graded before COVID, and there’s been no maintenance since.”

Some residents have attempted to take matters into their own hands. One woman reportedly began collecting and burning rubbish with the help of neighbours who lent her a wheelbarrow. However, with no official support, the effort was short-lived.

Another alarming issue involves the illegal disposal of sewage, with claims that a sewage truck recently dumped waste near the old location — an act that poses serious health and environmental risks.

Community Frustration and Fear

Tylden residents have expressed fear of retaliation if they speak out publicly, following previous incidents of violence in the area.

“This community has been forgotten,” one resident said. “We’ve been patient, but nothing changes. There are no services at all.”

Municipal Accountability in Question

The Chris Hani District Municipality has long faced public criticism for poor service delivery. The situation in Tylden underscores a broader pattern of neglect in smaller rural settlements surrounding Komani.

The municipality has previously cited infrastructure vandalism, ageing equipment, and budget constraints as ongoing challenges to service delivery, but residents argue that communication and accountability remain the biggest failures.

Komani News will continue to seek comment from the relevant municipal departments and publish updates as official responses are received.