Several Jackaroo Park residents have been without water for 12 days.
Some resorted to buying bottled water while some still waits for the municipality’s water trucks.
Ms Tanya Holloway voiced her frustration, “Our baby was born on Saturday, February 22. Imagine coming home and there is no water. It is extremely difficult to cope with the kids and a newborn without water.”
She said friends have been bringing them water which they use sparingly to do everyday chores.
Mr Martin van Jaarsveld is also dad to a three-week-old baby and he is just as furious.
“We have been buying water; it is an expense we did not budget for. It is one excuse after the other. This is unacceptable.”
Ms Michelle Bester, who has been voted in as a member of the ward committee, said she has been trying non-stop to get answers from the municipality, but to no avail.
“I am not even sure if the municipality has an idea that a certain block in Jackaroo does not have water because nothing is mentioned on the municipality’s Facebook page. We, however, have reported up to three times a day,”
A disheartened Bester turned to WITBANK NEWS as all her efforts seem to be unnoticed.
A meeting was arranged with Democratic Alliance ward councillor, Cllr Roy Cronje on Tuesday, February 25.
He accompanied Bester and Ms Henryette Jacobs, who also stays in Jackaroo Park, to the block that experienced dry taps for nearly two weeks.
It was discovered that a heavy vehicle using the quiet streets in the suburb broke a water pipe and that seems to be the reason for the water outage.
Cronje also mentioned that a newly installed pressure relief valve which was installed about two weeks ago played a role in the water pressure problems Jackaroo Park residents have experienced.
“The aim of the valve is to protect the main waterline feeding Blancheville, Jackaroo Park and Clearwater Estate. This valve has not been set properly and therefore Jackaroo Park has experienced low water pressure.”
Cronje has evidence on his cell phone of how many times he has phoned to arrange water trucks for the Jackaroo Park area.
When he called again on Tuesday, February 25 he was told to formally request a water truck.
The Blancheville, Jackaroo Park, Clearwater Estate and parts of Die Heuwel extensions have had water interruptions this past two weeks.
Municipal spokesperson Mr Lebo Mofokeng said he was waiting for a report from the municipality’s technical department.
By the time going to print there has been no comment from the municipality.
Watch:Pressure relief valve causes headaches for Jackaroo Park residents
Watch: Dry taps is a norm for Jackaroo Park residents
Watch: Still no water in Jackaroo Park
