Water tankers for KwaGuqa
Minister Sisulu also called on the municipalities and communities at large to look after their infrastructure and water tanks which have been put in place to assist them with water
Some residents of KwaGuqa in Extension 11 say they do not remember the last time water came out of their taps.
They sigh with relief after the announcement of lockdown for 21 days because water tankers started supplying them with water tankers.
One of the water tankers was found supplying part of the area on Thursday, April 5.
While eMalahleni water problems are well documented the residents of KwaGuqa Extension 11 believed that their case was unique.
They said they have been complaining about their water problems for a long time now and their pleas are falling on deaf ears.
Mr Themba Sindane says he started staying in the area from 2000 and he started experiencing water problems from 2014 as they did not have water for a week, then it was a month and after that, they use to be off for a three month period. Then they were off forever.
Most residents complained that they have tried several times to contact the municipality and every time they are told the same thing that water will be supplied, but nothing happened.
They say at the municipality they are always asked about their accounts and a lot of them indicated that they are always up to date with their accounts.
“I am one of the fortunate ones because I was able to buy a Jojo tank and I am able to fetch water with my van. What about the elderly how are they expected to live without water?” asked Mr Sindane.
The residents say all that they want to know is exactly what is their problem with water supply in their area.
Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu has announced that her department is in the process of providing water and sanitation to informal settlements, public areas including taxi ranks, as well as rural areas.
20 000 water tanks have already left the depot.
Some have been connected to the water infrastructure and are providing much-needed water to communities, while others are currently being transported to communities identified as having a need.
Minister Sisulu also called on the municipalities and communities at large to look after their infrastructure and water tanks which have been put in place to assist them with water.
She further appealed to people who are installing tanks to take the necessary precautions to minimize the risk of infection.
“While it remains our responsibility as a government to provide basic services to our communities, the situation we currently find ourselves in calls for us to do things differently. It is for this reason that we are appealing to borehole drilling companies across the country to extend their helping hand by drilling boreholes for communities who are in desperate need of water”, said Minister Sisulu.
“We implore our municipalities and private property owners to understand that preferably, the only movement of people that should occur now is through the de-densification initiative that was recently announced by my department, which is aimed at preventing densely populated settlements from being overwhelmed by COVID-19. We are doing this in the best interest of our people and it will be in their best interest to work with us”, Sisulu added.
The step-up of deployment of water tanks and tankers and the announcement came at the right time for residents of eMalahleni and they will wait and see.
“Even though we are happy about the supply we know that it will be only for the lockdown only and after that, we will be back to square one, are we only expected to wash our hands now during the lockdown?” asked Mr Sindane.
