Ugu fields flood of questions over lack of water in Hibberdene and Pumula

Emotions ran high at the public meeting in Hibberdene town hall on Monday this week when officials from Ugu District Municipality attempted to explain why some sectors of the community had been without water for 26 days, and counting.

ALSO READ : Still no water – and still no clear answers from Ugu

The official delegation included Ugu mayor, Sizwe Ncgobo; his deputy, Phumlile Mthiyane; interim municipal manager Sbu Sithole; Ray Nkonyeni Municipality deputy mayor, Ronnie Nair; Ray Nkonyeni Municipality councillor and chief whip Selvan Chetty; ward councillor Noah Cele and general manager water services, Sivuyile Mbewu.

The meeting, despite being called at the last minute, was well attended by a crowd in no mood for pleasantries or platitudes.

In his welcoming address, Cllr Nair said the lack of water was “unprecedented, a problem haunting the community”, adding that a degree of anger was to be expected.

Cllr Ngcobo was heckled and shouted down during his opening address, with the restive gathering clamouring for answers.

They were not satisfied with his outline of the measures taken to try and determine the cause of the prolonged interruption.

“Water from Bhobhoyi is not coming through to the local reservoirs. Police divers have inspected the dam for obstructions, and found none.”

Relative calm was restored and Mr Mbewu opened the meeting to the floor, fielding a barrage of questions.

In summary, he admitted the reservoirs were empty, adding that Sea Park, Sunwich Port and some ares of Hibberdene still had supply as they were lower lying areas.

He added that all valves between Bhoboyi and Hibberdene had been opened for inspection, and cameras had been used – with limited success – to inspect pipes.

Valves would be excavated for closer inspection, he said, and a shutdown had been planned for yesterday (Wednesday) during which the valves on the two main lines would be checked.

Responding to a question about striking workers and sabotage, the answer was unequivocal – no Ugu workers were currently on strike, and to date 126 workers had been dismissed.

Claims of sabotage were founded, and criminal cases had been opened with the police, it was said.

Claims of an internal rift at the municipality as the source of the problem were also vigorously denied.

In order to ease the way forward until supply was restored, the mayor agreed in principle to the provision of additional static tanks and to make old age homes and schools a priority.

Appeals to the meeting for suggestions elicited offers of technical help, a proposal that a rolling ‘watershedding’ schedule be implemented and that the sinking of boreholes be explored.

A memorandum from the South Coast Chamber of Commerce and Industry was presented to the mayor by executive member, Hilton O’Dwyer.

The meeting ended on a calmer note, with the glimmer of hope given that water may at least begin to trickle from taps by the weekend.

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