The lack of water supply blamed on poor maintenance

MOKOPANE – Residents welcomed the much-needed rain in recent months – but still there is little water in household taps, affecting not only town residents but those in surroundings villages too.

A farmer from Sterkrivier, Steven Vermaak this week confirmed that Doorndraai dam’s sluices are opened daily.

“The dam is full so there is more than enough water in terms of supply,” he said.

He recently measured up to 50 mm of rain within half an hour on his farm.

“The dam’s capacity is currently at 100% and this causes up to two sluices to be opened at a time. Two days ago there were 600 cubic meters of water that came through,” he said earlier this week.

He added that since November, the area measured up to 234 hours without electricity, excluding the 111 hours of load-shedding, which affects the ability to get water pumped to town.

“The problem is not too little water, but that the maintenance of the power infrastructure since the installation in 1969 has not received any attention.”

DA Member of Parliament, Beyers Smit made an urgent request on December 12 to the minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, who he said took up the matter with André de Ruyter, Chief Executive of Eskom.

In the letter, Smit asks that the Doorndraai dam Lepelle plant be exempted from load-shedding.

He also confirmed in the letter that the water crisis has an influence on the sewage system.

Both offices acknowledged receipt and indicated that an investigation is being conducted and that feedback will be provided as soon as possible.

Gideon Ramango, acting head of the electrical department at the Mogalakwena Municipality, confirmed that it has been “a long time” since any maintenance was done on the electrical line from Doorndraai dam Lepelle plant.

“When there is a problem, the electrician went to fix it, but there is no budget to do any maintenance.”