Municipality responds to status of Ermelo’s water quality
MBCF challenges the mayor, municipal manager and relevant ward councillor to publicly drink a glass of tap water in full view of the residents in each ward.
In response to recent information circulating on social media platforms, Mandla Zwane, the spokesperson for the Msukaligwa Local Municipality, has issued a statement affirming the safety and quality of the town’s tap water.
The municipality aims to address concerns raised by the Msukaligwa Business and Community Forum (MBCF) and reassure the public regarding the state of Ermelo’s water supply.
According to the statement, the MBCF published a poster containing claims about the blue and green drop results for 2023, suggesting that the drinking water quality in Ermelo might be cholera-prone.
Zwane criticised these claims, describing them as alarming and opportunistic.
To ensure the quality of water supplied to residents, the municipality actively collaborates with reputable government agencies, Zwane said.
One such agency is the Gert Sibande District Municipality’s water laboratory, which conducts randomised water testing to guarantee water quality assurance.
The municipality seeks to reassure the general public that the tap water in Msukaligwa, including Ermelo, is safe and suitable for human consumption.
Janice Conradie, the MBCF’s chairperson, responded to enquiries sent by Highvelder as to whether or not they had had the water tested.
They did not answer the question, but instead responded with a picture of a glass filled with brown water, reportedly from Ward 5, asking: “Will Msukaligwa Municipality drink their own tap water?”
In light of the municipality’s statement, the MBCF challenges the mayor, municipal manager and relevant ward councillor to publicly drink a glass of tap water in full view of the residents in each ward.
