POLOKWANE – Several arrests have been made by Polokwane police after protestors took the keys of the Olifantspoort Plant last week, halting production.
Read more: No water in Polokwane as residents lock and leave Olifanstpoort Plant with the key
In a statement released by the Department of Water and Sanitation, spokesperson Sputnik Ratau says the keys have been retrieved and the plant has been re-opened to resume water supply to Polokwane and surrounding areas.
“In the meanwhile, operation and maintenance work was halted at Ebenezer Dam to allow for water from Ebenezer to augment the disrupted supply to Polokwane. It has been established that the protest action was not primarily about water services but other service delivery issues,” Ratau said.
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Following a meeting with the Executive Mayor of Polokwane, Thembi Simelane-Nkadimeng, a technical team comprising of officials of the Department of Water and Sanitation, Lepelle Northern Water and Capricorn District Municipality has been formed to monitor the situation.
“Meanwhile, a meeting between the technical team, Provincial COGHSTA, Mayors of Polokwane, Capricorn and Lepelle-Nkumpi municipalities and leaders of the protesting community, was scheduled to take place today, 30 April, in an attempt to find common ground regarding the resolution of the demands on a school, clinic, roads and water reticulation,” Ratau concluded.
Damage to the plant is estimated to be in the millions, read more in this week’s Review.
