Residents are struggling due to a fault made by a Joburg Water employee.
Gawie Smith, the ward committee member, stated Joburg Water came to look at a burst pipe in Bernard Street on June 4, after which many more troubles followed.
He explained residents who saw what was happening, claimed the driver of the TLB made a mistake while working on the pipe, he dug in the wrong place and hit an electrical cable, as well as the sewerage pipe, which then meant the sewage was running into the broken clean water pipe. Smith explained they put chemicals in the water and flushed the pipes, now they are waiting to hear when the water will be safe to use.
Bruce Kau, a resident, elaborated by saying the power cable was restored the same day, however, the water has been a concern. He added the water truck that comes by every day helps a lot and that they can drink water and wash themselves.
Ward 86 councillor, Chantelle Fourie-Shawe stated, “This is the latest string of crises, not only in Ward 86, but across Joburg. Officials seem to be running from one crisis to another and there is no political leadership in sight. As the DA representative in Ward 86, I will keep fighting for basic service delivery. We need to stand together as a community against a failing government, united in hope.”
By the time of publication, June 12, Joburg Water has not commented on the matter, yet.
