Please note – dry taps are a norm in eMalahleni
Residents are tired of the word ‘reported’ when they complain about dry taps. They want decent answers.
Days without water are leaving residents thirsty for answers.
For more than two weeks, residents in Ward 20 have suffered continuous water problems.
One pipe after the other is bursting, work is delayed because parts are not available and valves are not all opened after work has been done.
A pipe break on the corner of Avril Street and Fleur Avenue in Blanchville was eventually fixed after three attempts.
One after the other messages on the ward’s WhatsApp group streamed in as everyone except one block heard the welcoming gurgling sound as the water returned.
And again, residents from Libertas Street up to Riverview complained of empty taps. Only to be told that the problem was reported.
On May 18 the municipality’s communication team painted a very bleak picture.
Water supply to Witbank Ext 8, Del Judor Ext 1, and a portion of Del Judor Ext 5 had no water and a pipe break was to blame.
Low reservoir levels affected a portion of Witbank Ext 10, Marelden Estate, Pine Ridge, and portions of Klarinet extensions.
The water in Model Park, Die Heuwel extensions, and Highveld Park extensions returned when water was restored.
But again, it was the portion of Blanchville, Riverview, and Highveld Park that had to make do with the little water they had left because the municipal team could not pinpoint the exact problem on site.
“Instead of the word reported, it would be more acceptable if the words: ‘we have recognised or not recognised the problem, and we are working on it’ were posted. If an indication could be given as to when the work is expected to be done, we won’t be up in arms. However, we are literally left dry when it comes to feedback from the municipality,” Mr Colin Goldswain, a resident of Ward 20 said.
“Unfortunately the Emalahleni Local Municipality does not appear to take the rights of the residents seriously,” former DA councilor Mr Clive Hatch said.
Hatch said the DA first reported these problems to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in 2008 and again in October 2021. However, the municipality still does not have a comprehensive plan to upgrade the water supply or replace the old water pipes that keep on breaking.
“It is the ward councillors who have to carry the brunt of the residents’ anger and frustration because the officials do not communicate with the residents by supplying answers to the problems reported. There are occasions when the whole community has to wait for a day or two for any communication from the municipality,” Hatch said.
He concluded, “ It is beyond belief that a government can disrespect its citizens in this manner, the department should either be placed under the administration of the central government or privatised because the residents deserve better than what this administration offers.”
WITBANK NEWS reached out to the municipality for comment and is waiting for feedback.
READ MORE ABOUT EMALAHLENI’S WATER PROBLEMS
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