Dry taps, home owners opt to sell properties

Angry and frustrated Ramsgate property owners say they are left with no option, but to sell up because of the inconsistent water supply by Ugu District Municipality.

At the end of last year, residents held a demonstration in front of the Ugu office in Oslo Beach, demanding answers to why their taps had been dry for over a month.

One of the residents, May Langley said the area is mostly populated by the elderly who are unable to carry water in buckets.
“The elderly are frail and can’t get into a bathtub or use a basin to wash. Our water has been on and off for over five months now, and Ugu has no solution,” she said.

Langley said most properties in the area are used as holiday accommodation or for rental purposes, however the owners are losing out.

“In a previous article in the Herald, Ugu spokesperson France Nzama said that it was all a lie and that water has been restored, however, our water only comes on for a day or two then off again. We cannot live like this, “Langley added.

Tessa Klopper, owner of Sandy Feet Lodge said she is fed up, her business is not flourishing as expected after she bought her property in 2020.

“We are fed up. We get bookings and after guests arrive, we have no water. They ask for refunds which is not good for us. As a solution, we had to buy tanks and fill up for R1000 rand at a time, and yet we still have to pay our water bills,” said Klopper.

She said with the loadshedding it’s even worse. “We are losing out. Water is a basic need. At the lodge we need water for the pool, laundry, cooking, and cleaning. This business is our only bread and butter and we cannot continue like this,” she said.

Property agent and Ramsgate resident, Chantal Hartley said sales has proven to be tough as clients who want to buy in the area end up cancelling the deal, once they hear of the water challenges.

“It is difficult as an agent as we have to inform clients about the water issues, and if the property has no borehole or tank we lose the sale.

“We also have many clients who want to sell, however, people are not buying and they sell for far less than the value of their properties. It’s a big problem,” Hartley added.

Some of the affected streets are Beach Drive, Chiddingstone Road, Wedge Drive, Shirley Avenue, Milton Lane, just to name a few.
Ward 2 councillor, the DA’s Alan Bosch agreed that water is a huge problem in his ward.

“The biggest problem is that Ugu is not taking us seriously. Just recently, I reported to them and I was told the problem has been resolved, and that a valve that was broken had been replaced, however we still don’t have water.

“This has been ongoing for three years and over the last eight days we are not getting any response from senior municipal officials. It’s a disaster. Even though some of the residents have tanks, it does not help those who don’t. For the past week, I requested that they fill up our static tanks and to date it has not been done. The residents are suffering, “Bosch emphasised.

Zama confirmed that a team is on the ground looking at the problem.
“A team found that one of the chamber valve’s tailgates had collapsed. Feedback will be provided once repairs are fully completed. The municipality apologises to all affected customers, our teams are doing their best to ensure supply is restored,” said Zama

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