Emgwenya residents at a loss with water shortages
The residents of Emgwenya has now been without water for over three weeks and are demanding answers from the Emakhazeni Local Municipality.
Some residents of Emgwenya (formerly Waterval Boven) are on the war path, because they have been without water for more than three weeks.
The cause of the crisis is believed to be the pump that must pump water out of the Elands River that has broken. By law, every municipal water works must have a standby.
The problem in Emgwenya, which falls under the control of the Emakhazeni Local Municipality (ELM) in Belfast, is that the standby pump for the nearby Machadodorp has been borrowed.
According to Ansie de Bruyn, the head of household at the Silverdays Old Age Home, they struggle immensely with the lack of water. “We have two JoJo tanks, one of which we fill up by collecting rainwater, and the other is connected to the municipal reticulation system.”
This tank is mainly used for drinking water and for cooking food. The rainwater tank is used in emergencies to bathe residents.
“It’s times like these when our tanks are empty that we depend on volunteers to donate the much-needed water,” says De Bruyn.
This is by no means fit for human consumption. We cannot even wash our laundry with it.
The ELM does not supply any water tankers to residents at this stage. However, as an interim measure, water restrictions, such as that no gardens may be watered, were introduced.
Another resident, who request to remain anonymous, says when water does come out of the taps, it is brown and looks like sludge. “This is by no means fit for human consumption. We cannot even wash our laundry with it.”
ALSO READ: Water woes continue in Sand River
Rudolph Pretorius, a stanch campaigner for the town against the failing service delivery, says the community is fed up with the ELM. “All our complaints, pleas and suggestions to the council, are falling on deaf ears. The ANC and the DA councillors in the town are also as silent as a grave about our plight!
“Why do they have to send the broken pump to Johannesburg to be repaired if it can be done locally?” he said.
Like in many other small towns in the province, service delivery is not high on the agenda for the ANC. I will immediately request Speed Mashilo, the MEC for human settlements, to intervene in the matter.
James Masango, the DA’s spokesperson on local government, said the ANC is in power and they should replace the pump, and ensure one is available on standby.
“Like in many other small towns in the province, service delivery is not high on the agenda for the ANC. I will immediately request Speed Mashilo, the MEC for human settlements, to intervene in the matter,” he said.
ALSO READ: Balotjaneng residents demand Phase 2 of water reticulation to be completed
Neither the ELM’s executive mayor, Nomhle Mashele, nor the municipal manager, Thandi Shoba, nor the communications officer, Kenneth Nkosi, responded to questions by the time of publishing.
