Patience thin regarding water crisis

Residents are becoming increasingly impatient as certain parts of Mogale City have been without water for nearly two weeks, causing the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) to intervene.

This week, FF Plus councillors from Mogale City visited Rand Water’s offices in Johannesburg to try and get answers about the ongoing water shortages affecting Krugersdorp.

In a statement issued, Tjaart Steenkamp, FF Plus councillor said Rand Water confirmed that it supplies enough water to fill up Mogale City’s reservoirs and that the municipality’s water bill is not overdue.

He said the party is also engaging with the municipality’s Department of Water and Electricity daily to see whether any challenges prevent adequate water supply to consumers.

“I haven’t gotten any concrete answers so far. The department merely supplied a report on reservoirs’ water levels which are still dangerously low. It has since come to light that there is still a problem at the Eikenhof Pump Station, from where water is pumped to Krugersdorp’s reservoirs. Mogale City’s failure to maintain the water network also results in water pipes bursting in areas where the water supply has been restored.”

According to Steenkamp, taxpayers are being punished for the sins of Rand Water and Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM), and senior citizens are bearing the brunt.

“The FF Plus is calling on residents with boreholes to supply water to fellow residents. Those with access to water are advised to use it sparingly to allow reservoir water levels to stabilise and water to reach higher-lying areas.”

Mogale’s latest communication about the water supply crisis stated that by Monday afternoon, March 11 water levels had only increased by 11,9% since March 5. According to MCLM, the reason for this is that the current increased water usage is dropping water levels in reservoirs at an alarming rate as they do not get a chance to fill up.

“Both Rand Water and Mogale City’s systems remain under constant pressure. The current heatwave is also putting severe strain on the water system as water demand and consumption is much higher than normal,” Mogale’s statement read.

The Krugersdorp News has since been inundated with requests from residents.

“I have been battling with water pressure for years now. I stay in Krugersdorp West. If I don’t do washing at 04:00 in the morning it will take forever to wash during the day because of the water pressure. To run a bath takes forever,” resident Yvone Erasmus said.

The News’ mother publication The Citizen has since reported that the City of Johannesburg mayor allegedly told councillors during a meeting that a valve at a pumping station had been closed. However, Johannesburg Water has since stated this to be false and not the cause of the crisis.

Resident Jeanine Malan disagrees, saying, “It is a disgrace that this should happen, leaving so many without water for close to two weeks, if not longer and should be investigated! The sad thing about this is that absolutely no one will take responsibility and I can almost guarantee that there will also be no apology or relief offered to affected residents.”

Others believe there is a snake in the grass with an anonymous resident stating that ‘somethings stinks and you do not have to be a rocket scientist to see this’.

“How come there is no water then suddenly two days later there is water for an hour or two and then it is gone again. Surely if the reservoir is empty, there should not be intermittent water supply? If reservoirs are being filled up you would normally experience the air pressure from taps. None of this occurred. I certainly do not think we got the true story.”