The residents were mostly from Hlalanikahle Extension 4 (Phase 4) and other areas of Hlalanikahle. They were protesting about the water problem they are experiencing in their areas. They were complaining about water shortages, since February last year (2013), they alleged. They also complained about the water trucks bringing water in their areas saying that they bring dirty and oily water.
“Water in our taps only comes out some days at about 02:00 and 03:00, we are expected to wake up and collect water during those odd hours. We are now sick and tired of the water problem. Why are we treated like this? This has been going on for a long time now and it has to stop and it must stop now. We have been told different stories by our leaders and we are tired, they must just provide us with water as we do pay for this water,” complained the residents.
One of the resident said they were told that the problem was, because the population in their areas is growing very fast and they find that very hard to believe. The residents claimed that they were promised that water will be back on Thursday January 16, but water did not came out of their taps on the said day.
They were promised again that technicians were attending to the problem, fixing valves and confirmed that water trucks did indeed come on Saturday and Sunday (January 18-19) to supply water. The residents were also asked to supply the municipality with sections that do not have water. It was also confirmed that on Monday (Jan 20) water did came out of taps for a few minutes and then stopped. The residents did not have water on Tuesday, January 21.
The residents said they want to know exactly what is the cause of the water problem, especially at Phase 4 and the other areas.
“Next month it will be a year since we started struggling with water supply, this should have been attended a long time ago,” they stated.
A questionnaire was sent to Emalahleni Local Municipality
Communication Manager Mr Lebo Mofokeng regarding water problems in those sections of KwaGuqa extensions. No response was received from Mr Mofokeng yet.
