Challenging poor service delivery requires the combined efforts of communities, #localdevelopmentagencies and #stakeholder collaboration. This story, detailing how a #scatgrantee engaged with other stakeholders to address a service delivery issue, serves as a compelling example.
Entlango Primary Agricultural Cooperative is situated on the banks of the Buffalo River, near Qongqotha village. The village is in close proximity to the Laing Dam, which is under the jurisdiction of the Amatola Water Board (AWB).
These last few years, the community has experienced damage to their homes, cracked walls, increased rising damp, and an infestation of mosquitoes due to yards being waterlogged. Residents reported that since 2019 they have reached out to ward councillors, ward committee members, and officials of the Amatola Water Board, to no avail.
Entlango Agricultural Cooperative, through it’s project Qongqotha Community Development Centre, got involved in the issue as part of their participation in the Strengthening Action Against Corruption programme, also known as SAAC. Together with the Qongqotha Residents Association they supported the community to engage in a number of actions to get the attention of the duty bearers, which include the Amatola Water Board, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency and the South African Police Services (SAPS) at Ndevana Police Station.
The community and stakeholders had a promising meeting on 22 August 2025 with local AWB officials at the construction site. Unfortunately, the lack of follow-up after the meeting dashed everyone’s hopes. Qongqotha Community Development Centre followed up with written communication, which was also forwarded to the ward councillor, the ward committee, and the Public Protector. This communication to the Amatola Water Board received no acknowledgment or response.
The community proposed a shutdown for 11 November 2025 and informed SAPS and other stakeholders of the planned action. The SAPS station commander intervened and helped them to organize a meeting with officials from AWB, SAPS, and other stakeholders on 11 November 2025 to avoid the chaos of a shutdown. Finally, on 12 November 2025, the Amatola Water Board dispatched engineers to assess the damage to houses and to identify the leakages in the system. A representative structure was set up to engage with the water board. Entlango Primary Agricultural Cooperative, through the Qongqotha Community Development Centre, will continue to hold duty bearers accountable. They will continue to support the community to have the issue resolved to their satisfaction.
#servicedelivery #water #easterncape #SAAC
Images: Zeke du Plessis, Google Maps
