LETTER: Ermelo community seeks answers over water woes

Lourens de Beer writes:

The ongoing water pressure issue affecting properties at 36, 38, 40, 40A, 42, and 44 Buhrmann Street, along with several other reported areas, is not something that can easily be shrugged off.

As we enter the new year, we are still grappling with a problem that has persisted for over 25 years.

It is unacceptable that the municipality does not communicate effectively with the community.

All too often, we, the community representatives, invest our time and resources to highlight the municipality’s interests at the Msukaligwa Call Centre and to relevant department heads, only to receive no response or feedback.

The municipality’s neglect in addressing reported issues is unprofessional and unsatisfactory.

The community urgently seeks answers to the following questions:

• Why is communication from community representatives consistently ignored? If this is not the case, why is there no feedback?
• Why are the issues reported by community representatives to the Msukaligwa Call Centre and relevant departments not addressed?
• What is the reason for the delays in addressing reported issues?
• Why are the insights and statistics provided by knowledgeable community members disregarded?
• Is there a shortage of essential spare parts to carry out repairs?
• Why is regular preventative maintenance not being conducted?
• Are qualified water engineers employed by Msukaligwa, and do they have the necessary skills to manage the municipality’s extensive water infrastructure?
• Why are areas not promptly compacted and rehabilitated after water pipe repairs are carried out?
• Why is there no qualified town planning engineer on the staff?
• Why are tenders and procurement processes prioritised over employing a municipal buyer who could obtain quotations for necessary repairs and services?
• What is being done to address the insufficient raw water pumping capacity at the Douglas Dam?
• Why was no action taken to remove sludge from the Willem Brummer and Douglas dams and increase their water-holding capacity when water levels were extremely low?
• What actions are being implemented concerning the environmentally damaging mines in the catchment areas of both dams? Unrehabilitated mines threaten both water flow and the safety of humans and wildlife.
• What immediate actions is Msukaligwa municipal management taking to resolve the current water issues, instead of deferring solutions for 30 to 50 years?
• Why are funds from national and regional governments allocated to unnecessary projects, such as the fencing around the civic centre, instead of addressing urgent water service needs?

These questions represent only a portion of the community’s concerns, and we eagerly await your responses.

Highvelder has forwarded the letter to the municipality and awaits feedback.