Two weeks of water disruptions amid a heat wave left hundreds of Mogale City residents at the end of their tether.
These recurring water problems had been experienced in the same areas for four consecutive years, especially in October. The alleged infrastructure upgrades did not prevent another water crisis as since September several pipes have burst in various suburbs; the most recent being in the Rangeview Extension 4/ Panorama area. It caused general water disruptions in all high-lying suburbs such as Kenmare, Kenmare Extension 4, Noordheuwel, Monument, Monument Extension 1 and Rant-en-Dal, making normal household activities a massive issue.
With a view to getting to the bottom of the continuous water disruptions that have been affecting some northern suburbs of the city, the Democratic Alliance demanded an urgent meeting with the Mogale City Local Municipality’s Water Department. The meeting was held on 8 October.
Lynn Pannall, DA councillor for Ward 21 and the party’s spokesperson on Infrastructure said in a statement the department’s Sandile Mbanjwa admitted that in previous years neither Rand Water nor the Municipality would accept responsibility for the problems. At the meeting on Thursday Mbanjwa undertook to meet with Rand Water to ensure it was supplying the full quota to Mogale City, and said Rand Water had mentioned the possibility of water shedding or water rationing. Despite this Christo Peyper, DA Caucus Leader, wanted the assurance that Rand Water’s Eikenhof Plant was discharging sufficient water for the City’s needs.
“In response to high consumption during the heat wave and the resultant disruptions and outcry by the community, the municipality and Rand Water had agreed to increase the inflow by 30 per cent. Water levels in the reservoir and tower had reached critical levels as more water was going out of the system than coming in. In fact three times the normal use was recorded on Sunday 4 October at 1pm.
“However the municipality cannot sustain pumping the increased inflow from Rand Water into the city over extended periods. To do so, Mogale would have to acquire a second pump as it cannot rely on the only existing pump at the Kenmare Reservoir. This was identified as the main problem on the municipality’s side. DA councillors
will press for budget allocations for this,” Pannall said.
It also was pointed out that if the municipality were to reduce current water losses of approximately 30 per cent, at least half its capacity problems allegedly would be resolved.
The municipality requested that during water disruptions, residents – except those with boreholes – should not irrigate their gardens. It is essential that everyone conserves water as South Africa does not have limitless supplies. This was echoed by Pannell who said, “We must urge those who have water to use it sparingly until the situation has stabilised.”
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