Water outage outrage
Members waited outside council chambers demanding answers and an explanation as to the reason for the lack of water on the South Coast.
Ugu District Municipality‘s recent council meeting had an unusual start as DA councillors stood outside the council chambers with placards.
They waited for the mayor, Sikhumbuzo Zero Mqadi, to explain to them as to why the South Coast has not had water for months.
Clr Leon Garbade of the DA said some people in his ward have not had water for over 60 days.
“We are here today to show Ugu our displeasure at the fact that the whole coast has been affected with water outages. This is not about certain wards but the whole coastline.”
Garbade said they are tired because they ask questions, ask for updates and ask for information but no-one gives them proper answers.
“All we have received in the last three weeks are reservoir levels and no explanation as to why they are low. We cannot continue like this, we need sustainable answers, not that it’s about burst pipes or load shedding.”
Garbade said Mqadi has been the mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality and is now with Ugu, meaning, he has personal contact with every councillor in the district and therefore it should be easy for him to explain to them what the issue is and how they plan on fixing it.
“We want long-term solutions, we can’t be in a situation where we open our taps and hold our breathe that there will be water.”
Clr Tessa Perryman of Hibberdene said her area has also been affected by water shortages.
“Stick Farm has had no water for almost six months. I am lucky if I get a tanker to go there at least once a week. I beg and plead with Ugu to put them on a weekly schedule like other rural areas but they still have not.”
Perryman said she is tired of not having answers to give to her people when they ask questions about water.
During council, Mqadi said water issues are not just something that you address once and then it’s fixed.
He said he still has to meet with areas where they have had protests and iron out issues and also address the DA.
The speaker, Sizwe Ngcobo was also present and DA councillors approached him asking questions but it ended with one councillor walking away.
Ngcobo asked to be invited when Perryman calls a meeting with the community.
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