Ugu needs R3-bn to fix water woes

Ugu District Municipality held a strategic planning meeting at the Margate Hotel last week, to discuss the ongoing water crisis on the South Coast.

Thereafter the media was briefed on resolutions and long term solutions taken. Representatives of Eskom and Cogta also attended.

The meeting focused on a plan that might help Ugu out of the crisis.

Ugu mayor Phumlile Mthiyane said they had identified three key areas of focus. She said firstly the demand for water is beyond the municipality’s supply capacity.

“We will deal strictly with illegal connections, whether it’s in rural or urban areas.”

Mthiyane also added that Ugu will increase the water capacity supply sources, reduce the number of privately owned water tankers and use municipal tankers.

Fewer contracts will now be awarded to private water tanker owners, instead Ugu tankers will be used to deliver water to communities.

Another problem that she raised was the ageing infrastructure, she said most of the pipes are bursting because they are old and have reached their lifespan.

She said one of the main problems is that as the infrastructure is old, it has to be repaired regularly, hence the water cuts.

Mthiyane said Ugu’s problems require money that it does not have, but they have identified that about R3-bn is needed to fix everything.

“Unavailability of backup power supply is also a challenge. We are engaging with Eskom to increase energy capacity at our main plants.”

She said they have made an application to the power utility asking them not to implement load shedding at the pump stations.

Acting spokesperson for Ugu, Mondli Ncane said the municipal manager has signed and submitted the letter to Eskom.

“We are asking that Eskom separates our lines from the community lines in order for them to exempt us as a key critical service provider of water.”

Ugu is also trying to buy its own generators as a back-up for the pump stations.

“While we have managers that are highly qualified but at ground level there is no supervision, and that is where we find ourselves in trouble,” added Mthiyane.

She said by the end of the year they would have hoped to have corrected the billing system because that is where they are also losing money.

Employees overtime will also be reduced immediately, this means that repairs will be classified according to the nature of severity.

The mayor asked that communities be patient with them for a few months, while they are trying to implement these plans.

When questioned if Ugu was concerned about people taking legal action as they have been complaining about water issues for a long time, the mayor said it was their right to do so.

Premier of KwaZulu Natal, Sihle Zikalala visited Ugu in February and met with stakeholders. It is believed the premier will be visiting Ugu soon to give feedback on the issues that had been raised by stakeholders and communities.

According to Mthiyane the premier was here to hear what the problem was and when he returns he will give feedback to a larger group.

Mthiyane said that at least by last Friday everyone should have had water.

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