Plett ratepayers 2026 AGM recap

Dear Members,

Thank you to those who attended our AGM on 26 February.  It was well attended with three excellent speakers who spoke on Bitou's water situation.

Our first speaker was Eugene Vermaak of Knysna Infrastructure Group who gave an inspirational and enlightening presentation on their initiative involving a group of volunteer residents working with Knysna Municipality during their water crisis.  They are mainly focusing on quick responses to water leaks, maintaining pumps, and becoming a communications arm for the municipality.  They have had impressive results from the cooperative effort.

Our second invited speaker was Bitou's Senior Water Manager, however his immediate superior Director of Engineering Felton refused to allow him to address the ratepayers and the public, saying it was "superfluous."

Our third speakers were Jonathan Cawood and Chris Behrens from the Bitou Services Group.  They provided a brief overview of BSG’s role and the current water situation in Bitou. The group emphasised its constructive approach towards the municipality to help strengthen long-term water and sanitation security, drawing on a local panel of technical and professional expertise.

Members heard that the current restrictions are largely the result of years of under-investment and growing demand rather than drought. While the Keurbooms catchment supplies most of Bitou’s water, delayed investments in storage, and replacing & expanding ageing infrastructure, overdevelopment and the growing impact of invasive alien plants remain key systemic risks.

BSG also outlined its recent activities, including engagement with municipal leadership and collaboration with the Knysna Infrastructure Group. Initial discussions are underway with Bitou to explore clearing invasive plants in the Keurbooms catchment as a practical step to increase natural water yield.

Our fourth speaker (since the first speaker was blocked from addressing you), was Plett Ratepayers' EXCO member and water engineer Peter Pyke.  He gave an overview of the current water situation as set out by Bitou’s Eddie Oosthuizen in a meeting of Council and Representatives of RPA in January 2026.  He covered where our water is sourced from and the quantities, and what needs to be done to increase bulk storage for future water security.  The ultimate goal is building the Wadrift Dam, however plans have been dormant for the past decade and will take another decade to build once funding is found.  Bitou needs some shorter-term measures and is looking to restore vandalized boreholes and create new boreholes.  Peter also proposed a more practical water tariff structure which is consumption based without an upfront availability charge.

Bitou has applied for "State of Disaster" status which will open up funding opportunities and hopefully include some project oversight from Provincial and National water authorities.

Chairman Tony Blignaut commented:

• Our next focus is on fair and transparent tariffs to ensure they are cost-based and equitably applied.
• Accountability, responsiveness and transparency have been lacking from Bitou Municipality, so rather than be continually stonewalled for information, we will start taking legal action where we know we have a strong case. We will ask for cost awards against councillors and officials who act unlawfully.   There are new trends emerging from the high courts that have begun awarding costs when asked for against individuals.
• We will encourage ethical and capable leadership in local governance.
• Indications are that Bitou has over-developed beyond nature's and the municipality's capacity to provide water and sanitation services.  There is new Environmental legislation that does not allow this.  If raw water availability, water treatment plant capacity, bulk distribution capacity, sewer network capacity or wastewater treatment works capacity are overloaded or at design capacity, the municipality cannot lawfully approve additional connections or developments until capacity upgrades are built or the developer funds the necessary infrastructure.

We look forward to engaging with you throughout the year ahead.  If you have an opinion on the Chairman's plans above, please let us know.

If you have not yet paid your dues for 2026 we would value your continued support.  Please encourage your friends to join.

Kind regards,

Tony Blignaut