POLOKWANE – “How do we support games when we are struggling with basic water supply. Do right by your citizens and in turn they will do likewise.”
Residents in Polokwane have lambasted the municipality’s decision to host the Inter-Municipal Sports of South Africa (IMSSA) games amid the ongoing water crisis that has left the city’s taps dry for more than six weeks.
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Over 2000 people representing more than 25 municipalities will participate in the week-long event from Sunday (October 9) to Friday (October 14).
The games will be officially opened by the mayor John Mpe at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium where an opening soccer game will be played between the Polokwane Municipality and IMSSA Legends.
On Thursday (October 6), the municipality called for support for the games in large numbers but their call backfired as angry residents took to social media to vent their frustration.
“The people want WATER, leave the games. No water for the toilets and to drink,” one resident commented.
“How do you host games knowing there’s no water for the residents and guests visiting the city?” another resident asked.
Read more: Polokwane residents want answers to the ongoing water crisis
Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala told the Polokwane Observer that the ongoing water crisis is not in any way related to the events taking place in the city.
“The IMSSA games are hosted by the municipality not as a tool to benefit the city, but to fulfil vested interests of municipal sport teams participating in the week-long games. Municipalities planned from July to come to Polokwane to participate,” he said.
Selala added that emphasis should rather be placed on the economic benefits that come from visitors visiting the city.
When asked whether there has been any improvement in supply to the city and whether any progress has been made on the interventions stated by the mayor at a recent community engagement session, Selala said the immediate goals have been reached.
“Boreholes that were not in operation were brought back into the system. Boreholes in Sandriver South are producing more than 3.7 Ml a day and the Sandriver Manganese Water Treatment Works also improved to produce 4.7 Ml a day from 2 Ml a day. The valves that were leaking at the Dalmada treatment works are fixed and are now picking up from 9.9 Ml a day to 12.8 Ml a day,” he said.
Read more: Mayor’s engagement session deemed a waste of time by residents
Selala added that a backup generator to counter the negative effects of load-shedding at the Dalmada plant has been installed and is working.
“The Olifantspoort Bulk Water Scheme is now excluded from load-shedding. The municipality is also not load-shedding two of their main sources; the Dalmada Water Treatment Works and Sand River Boreholes and the Water Treatment Plant. The municipality and Lepelle Northern Water are engaging with the Greater Tzaneen Municipality to exclude the Ebenezer scheme from load-shedding as they are responsible for supplying power there.”
He said all these efforts “have seen improvement of water flow to the city.”
Despite this, many residents say they are still without water.
As of this morning (October 7), five of the city’s reservoirs were at 0% with the reservoir levels as follows:
Ext34 0 %
Ivydale 40 %
Potgieter 0 %
50Ml 0 %
30Ml D 0 %
30Ml F 3 %
Olifants 70 l/s
Ebnz 0 l/s
Seshego 8 %
SRN 1789400
