On Wednesday, June 20 Cllr Naritha Naidu arranged a meeting with the residents of Ext 16 and members from the Emalahleni Local Municipality. The members from the municipality that attended was Technical MMC Mduduzi Sifio Nkosi, Head of Water department Mr Shadrack Ndlovo, Collin Breintjies and William Mahloko.
The meeting was held so that residents could obtain answers to their long list of questions. Up to date the residents of Ext 16 have been without water for 12 days. Members from other parts of eMalahleni also attended the meeting as they have been without water for nearly 20 days.
“I arranged for this meeting because I will no longer accept the answer of ‘no time estimate’ from the municipality anymore,” said cllr Naritha Naidu.
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Residents wanted to know what the long term plan for the water problem is, and unfortunately the members from the municipality were unable to answer the question. However the municipal members have stated that at present there is no long term solution as they are relying on the provincial as well as the national government for funds to restore the water pipes of eMalahleni.
“It is not just Ext 16 that is experiencing the water catastrophe. The whole of eMalahleni is affected,”said Collin Breintjies.
The municipal members asked the residents to assist them in this time by volunteering and giving suggestions to solve the problem.
According to the Technical Manager of the municipality Mduduzi Nkosi there are two main issues, firstly the network is old and falling apart, he also stated that in terms of repairs the teams have been trying to do emergency repairs but with no luck, because the water pressure is too high and the pipes burst.
The municipal members agreed and said that they will respond to the issue as a matter of urgency. For time being they will install water bankers at schools and churches as well as certain points in neighbourhoods where residents will be able to obtain water from.
“We are going to start with the bankers tomorrow we don’t need to discuss it,” concluded Shadrack Ndlovo.
