Pensioner struggles without water
This pensioner, who is currently ill, had to call in outside help just to get water again.
A sick pensioner staying in the Merafong City Local Municipality’s Eureka Park housing units, this week struggled to get help from the municipality.
According to Bonita Beets (63), her geyser started leaking last week Monday.
She immediately contacted the municipality for help. She had to go to the Carletonville Hospital for treatment for a chest infection the next day. Upon her return the problem had still not been solved.
“When I came back my bedroom carpet was soaking wet. I called the municipality again, but they did not come. I was sitting watching television the night and had dozed off. I was woken up by a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot at around 22:30. I called my ward councillor and he called the municipality. The workers came out and switched my water off. They said they would come back to fix my geyser, but the never returned,” says Beets.
Since then Beets has struggled without water. A neighbour brings her buckets of water as she has a back injury and cannot carry it herself. She cannot bath or clean her house, and has to rely on neighbours for help.
“This is really getting to me,” she told the Herald on Monday.
According to Beets, who has been staying in Eureka Park for nine years, she has had problems with her geyser for several years.
Her toilet also leaks, the paint on her walls are stripping due to the water damage caused by the geyser and her water meter as well as that of her neighbour has been flooded for years.
Her neighbour’s ceiling has collapsed, and she is also not getting any help from the municipality.
The Herald took the issues to the municipality on Monday.
“The problem is being resolved,” answered their Marketing and Communications Manager, Temba Fezani, on Tuesday.
Beets also confirmed that the water supply to her home has been restored, even though her geyser was still not working.
