Barely a week after making a comprehensive presentation to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Clive Hatch, chairperson of the DA in Emalahleni wrote to the commission requesting there urgent intervention to alleviate the water crises in Extension 16 where residents have not had a water supply for days or more.
In his email to the SAHRC Hatch said: “A very serious situation developing. The residents in the suburb of Extension 16 in some areas have had little to no water supply for several days as a result of pipe bursts. It is realised that the people on the ground are doing their best under difficult circumstances, however, that does not help the families who have no water.”
The ward councillor for this area Cllr Kim Faduk also from the DA has requested that water tankers be sent into the ward on September 22, September 24, September 27, and September 28. READ MORE
Water outages again in Extension 16
But the municipality, according to her, did not even bother to despatch water tankers.
“I earnestly request that the commission intervenes on an urgent basis to get water into the community during this harrowing ordeal.”
Cllr Faduk is at her wits end.
“The residents of my ward desperately need water and all my requests for tankers to be despatched to the area are ignored. The provision of water is a basic human right that is being denied to my voters. My only hope is that our urgent appeal to the SAHRC will be heeded,” she said.
Hatch concluded that the local municipality appears to be on the precipice of a humanitarian crisis that they appear unable to address. READ MORE
Not a drop of water for three consecutive days in parts of eMalahleni
The municipal manager, Mr Sizwe Mayisela said he received feedback from the municipality’s water department and they said Cllr Faduk is continuously updated about the water situation and water tankers were dispatched when requested. READ MORE
Expect dry taps on Tuesday : Municipality carries out maintenance to reduce water losses
Mayisela said the water supply to Extension 16 has been interrupted continuously for the last three weeks and the reason for that is the number of pipe bursts in the area daily.
“We are experiencing increased pipe bursts and the only thing we can do for now is to repair them, and when funding is available all the AC pipes must be replaced,” is the answer from the municipality’s water department.
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