WATCH: All the water drama in Mogale as taps remain dry
The water shutdown is indeed taking its toll on residents across Mogale City as allegations of favouritism make the rounds while the reservoirs are slowly but surely filling up.
Although many could take a warm bath this weekend, do some laundry and perhaps even help their neighbours fill up some water bottles, there are still residents whose taps are bone dry.
The DA in Mogale City released a statement to explain what the reservoir water levels were at 07:15 as of July 17.
• Also read: Full restoration after shutdown to take several days – municipality
In the statement published on their Facebook page, they said the water levels at reservoirs are as follows:
• Krugersdorp 2 – 16.86%
• Krugersdorp 3 – 15.79%
• Krugersdorp 4 – 32.96%
• Witpoortjie 1 – 38.31%
• Witpoortjie 2 – 30.28%
• Driefontein – 36.17%
They said that supply is still a challenge and they have requested an update from Mogale City and the MMC of Utility Management Services, Peter Modise.
“Councillors have been liaising with Modise and the Water Department since 06:00 this morning [July 17] to try and secure water tanker deliveries for all affected wards and are pushing for the compilation of a proper water tanker schedule.”
Meanwhile, ward councillor Mark Trump addressed Executive Mayor councillor Danny Thupane in an open letter over the weekend asking why the municipality was not properly prepared.
• Also read: Taps in Krugersdorp North run dry
“It is with a frustrated and aggrieved heart that I write this letter to you. As the executive mayor you have done nothing to assist the councillors of Mogale City, through your position as voted in by councillors. Mayor Thupane, you have ignored your community. We were informed to provide our constituents to make provisions, yet you did
nothing in tasking Mogale City Local Municipality [MCLM] to do the same. Councillors took the initiative in providing residents with information regarding the water upgrades by Rand Water, yet you have done nothing to implement contingency plans. This is disrespectful and a failure on your behalf and your office. You are failing to serve the community!” Trump said in his letter.
He went on to suggest what should have been done leading up to the water shutdown was to establish a task team and form a backup system for vulnerable communities like the elderly and disabled. He said there should also have been an immediate declaration for the application of a state of disaster. He also mentioned that extra funding for water supply should have been done and that water points should have been set up to work in tandem to deliver water throughout Mogale.
“Information forums should have been created to distribute critical information. The Utilities Management Services should have been put on full overtime and leave cancelled during the outage,” he said.
In the midst of all of this, the Krugersdorp News has also received allegations that on Saturday, while water was returning to parts of Muldersdrift, Mogale City water trucks quickly showed up to suck it dry.
• Also read: We’re doing all we can – municipality to dried up Kagiso
These trucks were allegedly taken to Kagiso, one of the areas that went without water first. The question, however, is, who decides which community is more deserving of the water and is it the solution to take water from one community to give to another?
The News reached out to MCLM and asked why the water was allegedly taken from Mulderdrift and brought to Kagiso via the tankers. Who made this decision? And if it is true that the water tankers were sent to the community where MMC Modise lives and that the MMC ordered water to be brought to his community? What preparations were done by MCLM leading up to the water outage, as this is still not clear?
Lastly, the News asked if MCLM would like to comment on the open letter written by Trump. Even after extending the deadline for feedback on these allegations and Trump’s letter, none was received by the time this article was published.
Ward councillors from various parties have been trying to assist their communities during this situation and the community will be kept up to date on WhatsApp groups. The DA also said as water is restored, there are chances of pipes bursting and if you see any burst pipes, let your councillor know as soon as possible.
