Glenharvie residents still with little to no water for over two months
Residents find themselves in a position where they have to pay exorbitant amounts for water at local retailers, simply because the prices have gone up due to the demand.
Scores of Glenharvie residents were up in arms and are demanding answers from the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) regarding their taps that have been dry for weeks.
This comes as many of them gathered to meet with the Herald on Wednesday, April 19 to air their frustrations of having had little to no water supply for more than two consecutive months.
Speaking to the Randfontein Herald in an interview, resident and Infrastructure Ward Committee member Elliot Thintwa said some houses have water coming out at low pressure, while others simply have no water at all.
Also read: Glenharvie residents protest over water shortages
“We’ve got a crisis of water in this town, and we are saying enough is enough. Most of us are approaching the third month without water, which is an essential resource. We tried engaging with the municipality not long ago and our engagements are proving to be futile. We are told that the issue is on the Rand Water side and not with them; we just don’t believe them anymore. We feel that they are passing the buck and running away from responsibility,” said Thintwa.
He added that residents find themselves in a position where they have to pay exorbitant amounts for water at local retailers, simply because the prices have gone up due to the demand.
The Herald can also attest to the fact that this is not the first time that residents air their frustrations regarding water issues in the area.
Also read: Water supply problems in Glenharvie
On April 13, a handful of residents gathered outside the Rand West City Local Municipality’s offices and peacefully protested water shortages.
Before this, RWCLM spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa stated the water challenges in Glenharvie and said that water levels had dropped to just 5 percent as a result of Rand Water’s feeding supply to the Glenharvie reservoir.
He said that affected areas included Glenharvie Extensions 1, 2, and 3 and added that the municipality has since deployed water tankers as a provisional measure until the supply from Rand Water has been restored.
While this may be, residents are still faced with the realities of dry taps in their own homes and are hoping for a feasible solution from the municipality.
The Herald has since contacted Montshiwa once again, to find out what the latest is regarding the issue and will provide an update, once it becomes available.
