AS various areas grapple with catastrophic water shortages, the eThekwini Municipality has admitted that some of these outages result from mechanical and electrical failures of pump stations due to load-shedding.
To counter this, the city’s spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said talks with Eskom are currently taking place regarding the exemption of critical pump stations from load-shedding.
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“The ongoing interruption of water supply in areas such as KwaMakhutha, Umgababa, Lovu, Mfume and surrounding areas is caused by various factors. Currently, the ongoing load-shedding is compounding the situation as pump stations cannot function without power. As a result, a vast majority of outer-lying areas have been adversely affected by water outages,” said Mayisela.
In Lovu and Folweni townships, certain sections have had an inconsistent water supply since last year, which has led to protests and road closures by the community. In Folweni, protesters have continuously blocked the M35 road with burning tyres, leading Mklomelo Primary School to suspend classes for safety reasons.
Mayisela said water tankers will continue servicing the affected areas.
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