“A quick update on this matter Madam Speaker is that the Ekurhuleni water shortage situation has improved, with seven previously affected areas now receiving water.
“The situation has returned to normality in Benoni, Brakpan, Kempton Park, Germiston, Daveyton, Etwatwa and Tsakane.
“However, the same cannot be said about Bedfordview, Primrose and Tembisa.
”In the meantime, our Water Department has been encouraged to increase the number of water tankers in these areas as we look for a resolution to the network problem.” This was said by the mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele, in his address to council, on Thursday.
Residents of Germiston, however, paint a very different picture, with even the GCN’s offices still without water.
Here are some examples of the comments and complaints flooding into the GCN:
“This is madness, this makes you think if this country is even going to go forward,” said Sonya Landman.
“It has gone a hundred years back in time.
“How can we use water sparingly, when we have to go to another town to bath.
“They are full of empty promises, I am yet to see a message from someone that their water has been restored.”
Taryn Castle-Pearce said on Facebook: ”Day seven of no water in Marlands.”
Dennis Morsner added Gerdview and Lynne Braithwaite added Woodmere to the list of suburbs without water for the last seven days.
“Excuses after excuses after excuses, I don’t believe anything they say.
“They are all incompetent and unqualified idiots that can’t do their jobs,” said Nielson Branco.
Joan Potgieter Bousfield vented about the financial implications this crisis is causing her: “Using more electricity to boil water to wash and do the dishes and keep my house clean and filling up the toilet so that we do not have germs in the house on top of wasting petrol looking for water.
“It is disgusting that nothing gets maintained and looked after.”
“This is a small insight into the daily lives of the majority of this country,”said Lauren Churcher.
“Surely basic maintenance should be done with the money we pay?
“We are on our way to friends in North Johannesburg for a shower.
“I feel for those who have to face this situation daily.”
Armando Jeronimo said: “We have not had water in Homestead since Saturday morning.
“We have been using water out of our swimming pool to flush toilets and my pool level has now dropped by one third.
“We have also been driving to friends that live in Modderfontein on a daily basis in order to shower and top up our water containers, as we don’t trust that the water tankers are sterile.”
“Are you people kidding me?
“You’re worried about low water pressure?
“How about no water pressure? In Homestead and other surrounding areas we haven’t had water since Saturday.
“I apologise if I have no sympathy, but I’d rather have low water pressure than no water at all.”
“My father-in-law has been living in Lambton for 49 years, never before (even in drought time) has he been without water for so many consecutive days,” explained Richard Wicht.
“We all understand problems can occur, but when the problems reach this magnitude, unless there is a major natural disaster, it actually shows lack of management/skills and maintenance.
“Personally I believe, as with most things with South African’s current government, the problem is a culmination of all three and money being used to fill politicians’ personal coffers that was previously used to ensure that services like this are managed and maintained by the right people.
“So tired of the lame (non – informative) excuses which differ from day to day and department to department.”
The question on everyone’s mind remains: when will the water be restored to normal?
The GCN continues to try to find answers for the residents of Germiston.
