eMalahleni’s water problem is far from over.
Pipe breaks had the municipal team running around all over the city this past weekend.
On Sunday, May 22 alone the water supply to Tasbet Part Extension 1, Die Heuwel Extension 4, a portion of Extension 16, Riverview, and Blancheville were affected due to pipe breaks.
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Constant power interruptions affecting the elevated tank at point E were the reason KwaGuqa Ext 2 (Zone 14), KwaGuqa Ext 7, 10, and 11, and a portion of KwaGuqa Ext 18 and Empumelelweni Extensions had no water over the weekend too.
Residents in Blancheville vented on social media after dry taps were on the order of the day for more than two weeks.
On Saturday, May 21 most of the water to the affected Blancheville area was restored after it was discovered that a pipe in Libertas Street was leaking into a stormwater system.
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The affected pipe was fixed the following morning.
Residents said they were angry at the municipality’s lack of action and the fact that it had taken them more than two weeks to find the problem and repair it.
It was only after residents asked for a water tanker and the municipal manager, Mr Sizwe Mayisela, and the Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Clr Conny Nkalitshana were made aware of the seriousness of the water problem that water tankers were dispatched on Saturday and Sunday.
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However, there was no feedback from the municipal manager. A community reached out to him for answers as the municipality was not given any satisfactory answers as to what the problem is and a time on when water can be expected back.
The ward councillor, Clr Maureen Scheepers said she too could only give feedback when she received it from the municipality as she reported the matter over and over again.
The lack of communication from the municipality’s side seems to be the reason why the residents were up in arms.
“If we get adequate answers, we will know what to expect and how to prepare. The municipality must put effective communication lines in place. With that said the word ‘reported’ does not carry water, we deserve well-explained answers when it comes to service delivery hiccups,” Mr Colin Goldswain a resident lashed out.
The water problems in Ward 20 did not end there.
On Monday, May 23 one burst pipe after the other was reported in the same area again.
On Tuesday, May 24, and Wednesday, May 25 the water was again isolated in the area as more pipe bursts were reported.
By the time going to press neither Scheepers nor the municipality gave formal feedback.
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