Repeated public unrest led to four of Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) facilities being declared as national key point assets during the last month. The intervention is aimed at enhancing the safety of the city’s primary sources of bulk water. The affected sites are the Olifantspoort Water Treatment Plant and the Ebenezer, Nandoni and Flag Boshielo dams.
This follows after consumers in the city and the surrounding areas of supply have suffered from water shortages on a number of occasions during the last year, caused by interference in the operations of the water schemes by community members protesting about matters that are not relevant to the city as such.
Presentations in this regard were underway at the time of going to press.
In a media release issued on Tuesday LNW Spokesperson Simon Mpamonyane said that the bulk water provider experienced numerous stoppages at some of its bulk water schemes to the detriment of its customers caused by some elements within communities next to its schemes.
“In some instances, that resulted in the involvement of the police and several interactions with community structures through the respective ward councillors. The situation was volatile to the extent that some of the employees were mishandled by some elements from the community forcing LNW to engage the police to safeguard both human and assets,” Mpamonyane said.
“LNW commenced with the process of applying for the registrations of other affected schemes and received positive results and we are awaiting the responses,” Mpamonyane said.
Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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