A4A pushes for accountability after Mondeor’s prolonged water crisis

The Action for Accountability (A4A) project has given an update on the water supply issue affecting the Mondeor community facilities since last August.

These facilities include the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) precinct, which houses the Mondeor Recreation Centre, Carnation Pre-School and the Mondeor Meteors Football Club.

These essential services had no water for months, leaving the community puzzled and frustrated.

At the time of the initial water cut-off, there was no clear explanation from the CoJ about why the water supply was disconnected. A March investigation by A4A revealed that the facilities had an outstanding water bill of R2m.

However, disputes between different municipal departments delayed resolution because no one would take responsibility for paying the bill.

In response, the A4A team wrote letters to Johannesburg Water, the city’s property management, and the mayor, seeking clarity and accountability. Unfortunately, despite repeated efforts, the team received no replies or acknowledgements from these departments.

In September, the occupants of the facilities reported that the water supply had been restored. However, there was no official communication about how or why this happened, and A4A’s inquiries into the matter have gone unanswered.

Impact of the water crisis

The water disconnection left Mondeor residents in distress and had many detrimental effects.

The recreation centre is a central part of the community used for community meetings, church services, funerals, graduations and weddings. However, because it had no water, the community could not use it.

The second facility, Carnation Pre-School, is a non-profit community preschool that provides early childhood development services.

The services safeguard the preschoolers’ rights to reach their full potential in cognitive, emotional, social and physical development.

The crisis left a deep dent in the preschool’s pockets because of the costs of alternative ways to get water.

The restricted water supply caused challenges for the preschool staff and learners to such an extent that it was at risk of closing its doors. If it had closed, it would have deprived young children – coming from as far as Soweto – of a chance to get an affordable education.

The third facility, the Mondeor Meteors Football Club, has provided its community with great sports since 1960. It offers recreational activities to the youth and is an outlet where they can stay fit and away from society’s harmful influences.

During the crisis, the youngsters could not use the ablution facilities, which posed a health risk. Additionally, the children train and need water to stay hydrated. They were advised to bring water from home, which usually could not sustain them throughout an entire session.

Taking accountability

Dawood Raphalalane, a community facilitator, shared, “While the community is relieved that water is finally restored, we, as A4A, emphasize the importance of transparency and accountability.

“Mondeor residents deserve consistent and reliable service delivery. That the water restoration was done responsibly, following due process and without any traces of corruption, is crucial.”

The A4A project remains vigilant and committed to protecting the interests of Mondeor residents.

The Comaro Chronicle contacted the CoJ and Johannesburg Water for comment and still awaits their comments.