Heidelberg residents should brace themselves for a prolonged period without water after officials at Lesedi Local Municipality confirmed that one of the main pipes which supplies this vital resource to residents burst yesterday (September 26).
Workers of Lesedi Local Municipality (LLM) are currently trying to resolve the problem, but early indications are that it may take more than two days.
Listen to Lesedi’s Senior Manager responsible for water and sanitation, Star Moholobela, give an explanation on the crisis:
Meanwhile residents and businesses in Heidelberg central, the industrial area, parts of Rensburg, Extension 23 and 26 have been without water for more than four days.
According Lesedi officials Rand Water is to be blamed for sudden increase in water pressure which resulted in the pipe burst.
Rand Water was asked to comment, but declined – stating that LLM should deal with the matter.
DA Councillor Gery Holtzhausen, however, insisted that LLM should own up to the mistakes it made in the week leading up to the current water shortage.
“Rand Water warned LLM last week that an inlet valve to a reservoir was closed, but nothing was done by LLM to attend to this,” Holtzhausen said.
“Instead the staff were paid early on Friday and they went home early for the long weekend, not bothered by the problem.”
Holtzhausen indicated that claims of loss of revenue are likely to be brought against LLM by businesses that may have suffered a loss because of what he described as negligence on the part of LLM.
A detailed media statement from LLM is expected later today.
