The Vioolsdrif border post, one of South Africa’s most important border crossings, located along the Orange River on the border with Namibia, has been without any water supply for over a month. This severe lapse in service delivery raises grave concerns about basic human rights, health, working conditions, and the operational functionality of this strategic facility.
Despite the daily presence of border control and customs officials, there is no reliable access to water – not for the border post itself, the staff, or the surrounding area. The ongoing shortage not only endangers the health of those affected but also hampers the overall efficiency of border control operations.
“We are talking about an international border post that is a key point for trade and tourism between South Africa and Namibia,” said a concerned source. “To expect staff to operate for more than four weeks without water is a blatant disregard for basic service obligations. This is not mere negligence; it is a dereliction of duty.”
The Vioolsdrif border post plays a vital role in bilateral trade flow and cross-border cooperation. It also serves as the entry point to the N7 highway between Cape Town and Windhoek. The absence of such a basic necessity as water at such a strategic location places immense pressure on already vulnerable infrastructure in remote areas.
TLU SA Northern Cape, on behalf of organised agriculture in the region, expresses its deep disappointment and concern over the continued failure of the relevant authorities to address this issue. Border staff are suffering under these conditions, and the situation is unsustainable.
We make an urgent appeal to the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, and the relevant local and provincial authorities to intervene without delay.
“The current situation is unacceptable. No employee should be expected to perform their duties without access to basic amenities such as water, and the public deserves transparency and accountability. The time for action is now.”
