Western Extension and Lakefield went without water on Thursday, at around 11am, after a main water pipe was damaged in the veld behind Deneys Conradie Residentia on Railway Avenue.
A company who were clearing vegetation in the area are believed to be responsible for the damage to the pipe.
Two members of the community, Sameer Cassim and Ashraf Moosa, this morning donated 130 5l bottles of water to affected parties at Deneys Conradie Residentia, on behalf of the Lakefield Muslim community.
This comes after Moosa allowed people to collect water from his Engen Wembly Filling Station, on Atlas Road, on August 13.
The Benoni Community Police Forum (CPF) also carried water to residents in the block of flats last night.
The water came as a welcome relief for many of the residents this morning, who were lining up to collect the resource.
“It is very much needed; you can’t survive without water,” said Wilhelmina Erasmus, of the council-owned flat.
Ward 28 Clr Mary Goby said Glynnview, the Benoni SPCA, Hospice East Rand and Benoni Junior School were amongst those affected by the lack of water.
Some of the bottled water was taken to Hospice East Rand this morning.
Frustration continues
Goby expressed her anger at officials within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitain Municipality (EMM) for not providing temporary relief to the community by deploying water tankers.
She said she requested water tankers to be placed at strategic points, by up until 10am this morning, none had been stationed.
“I want an investigation into Ekurhuleni water department officials for not providing tankers,” said Goby.
“We know we have a problem, just give us water.”
The owner of Just Batteries, in Western Extension, John Chapman, said his staff have been unproductive as a result of his business being hit by the water supply problem.
He said his 30 employees had to be transported to shopping centres for them to relieve themselves.
A EMM water department official on scene told the City Times this morning the leak should have been repaired before noon; however, a snag was encountered as the pipe intended to remedy the leak was the wrong diameter.
It is unclear when water will be switched back on.
