eMBALENHLE – The Govan Mbeki Municipality insisted that the Extension 15 water reservoir is working, but failed to provide the facts.
This came after Ridge Times covered several stories about the water reservoir and the dissatisfaction of residents.
They complained that they are often faced with water cuts apparently the resioir was not working.
Municipal officials including the deputy director of the water and sanitation department, Mr Zweli Masuku, met with Ridge Times in attempt to provide facts about the reservoir.
In this meeting another meeting was arranged for a sight visit at the water reservoir. However Mr Zweli did not pitch.
The newspaper met with Mr Lucky Mhlongo and Mr Donald Green, communication officers, and another two officials who are plumbers.
An interview was held in the road and the newspaper was not given all the answers by the municipality.
When Ridge Times asked questions about the state of the reservoir, Mr Mhlongo instructed the plumbers not to respond to most of the questions.
The officials could not answer the questions about the capacity of the reservoir, water levels and compliance.
Instead, the journalist was told by Mr Mhlongo that it is none of his business how big is the reservoir.
He said what is important, is that the residents have water.
He did not want to answer about whether the tanks are working or not and he said the purpose of the meeting was to prove that the water reservoir is working.
The newspaper asked how the reservoir operates and one of the plumbers said there are two pipes, an input pipe and output.
“The water comes from the Adullam Reservoir, feed this one through the input pipe and supply to the community through the output. It is not important that the water tanks are working or not.
“In actual fact why are you here, because people have water?”
At some point Mr Mhlongo said the journalist thinks he is clever and important.
The reservoir was revamped by Overlooked Colliery as part of their social labour plan and handed over to Govan Mbeki Municipality in March.
The reservoir was disconnected in 2017 from supplying water to the area after residents complained that the water was contaminated with algae and worms.
Ext 15 residents claimed to have found little red worms floating in their tap water.
The municipality decided to disconnect the reservoir and it was left unattended for a long time, until residents raised their concerns that the unbarricaded reservoir was posing a danger to their children as they often play there.
