Vumatel responds quickly to damaged water pipes during fibre installations
Vumatel fibre installations are taking place and there are a few water pipes that were burst, leading to water outages in the streets of certain areas. The Vumatel representatives are taking care of them.
Residents of Birchleigh and Norkem Park have had some complaints about the Vumatel fibre installations that are currently underway.
There have been complaints about the contractors damaging water pipes which leaves residents without water. The company has been installing fibre in the suburbs and has hit at least three major water pipes, leading to lengthy water outages.
“I have a husband who is handicapped and I need water to be able to get through the day with him. We have had a water outage that has lasted for up to eight hours,” said Arona de Bruin.
Kobie Roets said she has no fence around her house and came home to a box that was attached on the wall of her house by Vumatel contractors.
“I understand that they have to work on the outside of my property but they didn’t even ask permission to put that box there. I spoke to one of the contractors and they said they would have it removed as soon as possible,”she said.
Kempton Express spoke to a representative for Vumatel for the Norkem Park/Birchleigh areas, Nathan Earnest, who said scans were done before digging on sidewalks, but they were not always accurate, which lead to contractors hitting the pipes.
“We have a relationship with the municipality and as soon as such problems occur, we contact them to fix the water pipe,” said Nathan Earnest.
Another resident was worried that the water pipe that was hit in their street was so close to their water meter that they would have to pay for the water.
Earnest said, “We work outside residents’ yards. The water leaks will not affect their water bills.”
He said the contractors are able to fix the smaller pipes but they call for help from the municipality when the bigger pipes need repair.
“The municipality’s response is very quick when we call them for help,” said Earnest.
Residents can contact these Vumatel representatives:
Nathan Earnest: nathan.earnest@vumatel.co.za
Lincoln Meyer: lincoln.meyer@vumatel.co.za
Tshepo Mothiba: tshepo.mothiba@vumatel.co.za
