Swellendam’s Executive Mayor has issued a firm response to growing public confusion over water restrictions, tariffs, and the Overberg Wind Farm. In a detailed memorandum, he addressed misinformation circulating on social media, in local politics, and in a national newspaper, calling it “civic sabotage” that threatens public trust and responsible governance.

According to Mr Du Rand:

What’s Really Happening with Our Water?

• Grootkloof 3 is our drinking water source, currently below 60% capacity. Daily use sits at 5 million litres, and with poor rainfall forecasted, the town faces a real risk of drought.
• Level 2 water restrictions will begin on 1 December 2025. These aim to reduce non-essential water use, especially outdoors. Hosepipes are banned, pools may only be topped up once a week, and gardens must be watered by hand.
• Level 2 tariffs only apply to high-volume users. Households using water responsibly will not see a price hike. The goal is conservation, not revenue.

What About the Wind Farm?

• Water from Grootkloof 2 was used for wind farm construction, the golf course, and irrigation—under metered conditions.
• The total water used for the wind farm over a month was less than one day’s drinking water for the town.
• Council has now stopped all extractions from Grootkloof 2 to protect reserves.

Debunking the “Secret Pipe” Claim

• A photo published in the Sunday Times showed a pipe labelled as “secret.” In fact, it’s a standard scour valve used to flush sediment from pipelines.
• The valve developed a leak and has since been sealed. It does not divert drinking water into Grootkloof 2.

A Call for Unity and Responsibility

The Mayor warned that spreading false claims undermines the Municipality’s ability to serve its people. He urged residents to verify facts before sharing content online and to work together to avoid a full-blown water crisis.

“This is not about politics,” the memorandum states. “It’s about protecting our town’s future. Every drop matters. Every fact matters. Every resident matters.”

Read the Mayor’s full memorandum here:

“Please note that the Level water restrictions currently apply only to Swellendam and not to the entire municipal area, as previously communicated.

Neem asseblief kennis dat die Vlak 1 waterbeperking slegs op Swellendam van toepassing is, en nie op die hele munisipale gebied nie, soos voorheen gekommunikeer.“