Picture: Mafikeng Provincial Hospital
By BAKANG MOKOTO
14 November 2026 – The North West Department of Health has confirmed that the water supply at Mafikeng Provincial Hospital (MPH) has been fully restored following a recent interruption that affected most areas of the healthcare facility. The North West MEC for Health, Sello Lehari, said the disruption resulted in limited water availability across the hospital, prompting urgent interventions to minimise interruptions to essential healthcare services.
Lehari said that, following consultations with relevant stakeholders, hospital management established that the disruption was caused by low water pressure from Magalies Water, the hospital’s main water supplier.
He explained that the reduced pressure prevented the hospital’s two main water storage tanks from being adequately replenished to meet the high demand for water, particularly in the hospital wards. However, the water supply has since been restored following an emergency intervention by the Fire Department and the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, which provided additional water to the facility.
“Meanwhile, hospital management is considering permanent measures to strengthen the facility’s water storage capacity and ensure a more reliable supply. These interventions will help minimise the impact of similar disruptions on hospital operations in the future,” said Lehari.
He pointed out that the hospital’s existing water storage capacity was limited and had not kept pace with population growth over the past 58 years. Furthermore, the current water storage infrastructure serves both Mafikeng Provincial Hospital and Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital, placing additional pressure on the available capacity.
Lehari said the department was exploring long-term solutions to prevent similar incidents, including refurbishing existing boreholes and procuring a water monitoring system. The proposed monitoring system will enable hospital management to continuously track water levels across all storage tanks, ensuring that available water resources are monitored and managed effectively.
“The hospital sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused to patients, visitors, healthcare workers and other stakeholders during the water supply interruption. Management wishes to extend its appreciation to everyone who contributed towards restoring the water supply, including nurses, doctors, support staff and the municipality.
“The hospital remains committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of patients while ensuring that essential healthcare services continue to be delivered to the best of its ability,” he said.
The department’s assurance comes as hospital management considers infrastructure improvements aimed at strengthening water security and ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services in the future.
