Villagers around Hazyview connect to water illegally, claiming nothing is done to supply them

Community members around Hazyview are finding ways to connect water to their homes illegally, accusing the City of Mbombela (CoM) of dragging its feet when it comes to supplying water in the area.

The CoM’s mayor, Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, officially opened a section of the Hoxane Water Treatment Works already in January. During the opening, she said this would benefit over 50 000 households, including northern communities such as Hazyview and parts of Nsikazi.

However, Sand River, Shabalala and Nyongane communities, which border the water treatment plant, are still not benefiting, even though some of the pipes pass through their villages. Growing tired of waiting for the municipal water tankers to supply them, they are forced to buy water.

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Some residents near Sibuko Secondary School have already illegally connected to the network and are receiving water.
Meanwhile, the other communities claim they had also located the bulk pipe and are looking for ways to connecting the main pipes to their taps without the municipal’s permission.

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“We have been waiting for years for the municipality to supply us with running water into our homes since their water tankers have failed us. We have taps in our houses that have been dry for some time, with no action. Our ward councillor is also quiet about it; there has been no meeting or update, so we are taking the law into our own hands. Maybe then they will react and give us the water we want,” they said.
The CoM’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, was unavailable for comment by the time of going to press.