Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts in this claim come from
Every fact on the claim page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
What does the evidence show?
Why it is Verified
The Auditor-General's briefing puts 2024-25 water losses at 48% (R496m). Over four years, its report puts Mangaung's water losses at R1.85 billion. They were above the 30% norm (the accepted level) in each of those years. The Auditor-General could not confirm the 2024-25 figure, because the metro's data on water sold was not reliable.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 28 April 2026.
Where to look: Slide 8 (PDF page 8), 'Financial health dashboard', gauge 'Water losses': '48%' and 'R496m'. Slide 7: qualification 'Bulk purchases: I could not verify water distribution losses due to unreliable data on units sold'
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: Printed page 208 (PDF page 212), Mangaung spotlight, 'Distribution losses over administration': 'Water losses R1,85bn (4 years more than 30% norm)'
Parliamentary Monitoring Group. Published 5 May 2026.
Where to look: Section 'Water losses, informal settlements and revenue implications': Mayor Nthatisi estimated losses at 'just over 50%'; section 'Water losses and project implementation': Head of Technical Services Masobeng put non-revenue water at about 50.6% (supporting)
What did the council do, and when?
Who ran the council
Mayor: Gregory Nthatisi (ANC). Council run by ANC. From Apr 2023 to present.
OFM. Published 26 April 2023.
Where to look: Paragraphs 1-2 (ANC councillor Gregory Nthatisi elected acting executive mayor after the High Court interdicted AASD president Papi Mokoena); paragraph 9 (council sat on Tuesday 25 April 2023)
The Citizen. Published 26 April 2023.
Where to look: Paragraph 3 (elected acting mayor with 50 of the 93 votes cast in a secret ballot at a special council sitting); paragraph 2 (court interdict set aside Mokoena's election)
BloemNews Express. Published 26 October 2023.
Where to look: Article body paragraph 1 ('The ANC is back in the troika positions in the Mangaung Metro after an election held on Friday, 13 October'); paragraph 2 ('The newly-elected executive mayor, Gregory Nthatisi')
OFM. Published 24 October 2025.
Where to look: Paragraph 8 ('Nthatisi, who was elected as mayor in 2023 with the support of the ANC and its coalition partners, including the African Transformation Movement')
Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. Published 29 January 2026.
Where to look: Printed page 11 (PDF page 16), section on political governance: '1) Executive Mayor: Councillor Gregory Mosala Solomon Nthatisi'
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 28 April 2026.
Where to look: Slide 8 (PDF page 8), 'Insights on national intervention': provincial administration under section 139(5) from 1 January 2020 to 25 April 2022, national intervention under section 139(7) from 26 April 2022; still in the rescue phase of the financial recovery plan at 30 June 2025
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