The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has responded to the Herald’s request for comment about a major water leak in Brakpan North being used by illegal miners to aid their unlawful operations.
It was reported on the front page of last week’s edition, ‘Water leak benefits illegal gold miners’, how the zama-zamas channelled water from the leak, situated in the veld near Grant Street, to a small pool, where it was then pumped by means of a generator through a pipe.
Read the story here: Water leak a blessing for zama-zamas
The pipe, reportedly municipal property, was attached to a home-made angled table, on which the miners sluiced the sediment for gold.
Brandon Pretorius, DA ward councillor for the area, reported the leak to council on October 4, after it was brought to his attention by a resident of the area.
This resident had also reported the leak to the municipality and contacted Pretorius when no action was taken.
Municipal spokesperson Themba Gadebe confirmed the issue was reported twice – once as a water leak and another, erroneously, as a sewer blockage.
“A team was sent out to attend to the leak and it was then discovered that the one reported as a sewer blockage was actually a water leak, which was also attended to,” he said.
“The burst pipe was also repaired, however, the same pipe started leaking at a different spot.
“A team of technicians also attended to the second leak and it was discovered that the pipe was connected illegally by a yellow pipe.”
Gadebe did not reveal whether the illegal connection was removed or whether any preventative measures will be taken to ensure the illegal miners do not tamper with the water infrastructure in the area.
Also read: Water-shedding on the cards for Ekurhuleni
Every drop counts: Use water sparingly
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