There is no water crisis yet.
This is according to the Joburg Mayoral Committee Member for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Matshidiso Mfikoe, who was interviewed on ENCA today.
I wonder if the residents in Bedfordview, Germiston, Elsburg and several other areas would agree? To my knowledge, some of these communities have been without water for several days now.
But don’t fret dear residents, there is no crisis. Yet.
Water cannot be pumped into the reservoirs and even when water is being pumped in, there is a power failure – affecting the electrically powered water pumps.
But don’t worry, there is no crisis.
This is not rocket science, but let me break it down any way.
No power means the pumps can’t run. If the pumps can’t run, water will not flow uphill.
Since water cannot flow uphill, it means no water will fill the reservoir. No water in the reservoir means residents don’t get water. I trust I’m not moving too quickly for municipal officials?
The same applies if the pumps are broken or if there is a burst pipe linking the reservoir to what can only be described as ‘the bigger’ reservoir.
Our country is currently experiencing its worst drought in 30 years, with hundreds of millions being allocated to farmers who have had livestock and crops decimated by lack of rainfall.
But there is no crisis yet.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality released a list of affected areas this morning, indicating which suburbs have no water. There are 11 suburbs listed as not having water in the EMM, as of this morning. (While conveniently ignoring the lack of water from the past two days.)
Included in the list are areas likely to be affected soon, as the reservoir levels supplying these areas are critically low. There are 32 additional suburbs listed under this category.
But there is no crisis.
Sorry, but I just have to ask: what in the hell would constitute a crisis then?! When we have 43 suburbs without water?
Please understand, these 43 suburbs (counting the 11 without water and the 32 in danger of having no water) encompass a massive portion of the EMM, in fact, it covers nearly every single suburb and/or area under the EMM. For some reason, Springs doesn’t seem to be on the list – yet. But perhaps someone simply forgot to include it.
Furthermore, the area from Daveyton to Bedfordview covers some massive industrial areas – industries that contribute massively towards employment and tax revenue to government.
And no, I simply cannot ignore the fact that so many homes within the 43 suburbs also contribute to income tax – notwithstanding the contributions to the EMM in the form of rates and taxes.
So, despite all this money, despite the lower than average rainfall for the past year, no one could foresee or plan ahead for this?
But there is no crisis, right?
Actually no, there is no crisis. It is a damn catastrophe, a shocking indictment upon the powers that be, indicating that they honestly do not care about the communities falling under their control. No sir, just so long as you pay your rates and taxes, in time and on time, right?
Pay, pay, pay is all we get asked to do.
“Work with us” is another great catchphrase, as is “We are asking for the community’s help”.
Here’s a notion – get to bloody work and do the damn job you are drawing fat salaries for.
How about this – we actually want to receive the services we pay for – all the time, not when it suits you.
Here’s my list of how the EMM can ‘work with us, the ratepayers’:
r Fix the water infrastructure. Like yesterday.
r Plan ahead – ever heard of weather forecasts and average expected rainfall? Use it.
r Read up on El Nino. Google can assist you here.
r Fix the potholes. Now.
r Those wonderful work crews that take ages to respond to burst pipes and other critical infrastructure problems? Fire them. Hire people who actually have a desire to work.
r Stop worrying about the metro being known as the EMM or the City of Ekurhuleni – neither name inspires confidence in service delivery. (Just ask Primrose Hill residents who have not bathed in two days.)
And this is just for starters. Something to begin with, something to begin winning back the trust of the ratepayers living within the EMM’s borders.
I recall last September, when areas in Bedfordview were left high and dry (again). I also recall a certain executive mayor claiming this will never happen under his watch again.
