Residents of Gholfsig and Clubville are watching treated water flow down the drain, while others in less developed areas have to cart bucketfuls by wheelbarrow.

These are the sentiments of Alderman Elsie Vermooten, who serves as ward councillor for Gholfsig and Clubville, which have 18 water leaks that are yet to be attended to by the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality.

According to a list of reported water leaks, supplied by Vermooten, streets like AG Visser, Eugene Marais, Oosthuizen, Totius and Frewin have consistently experienced burst pipes, often in the same location where previous repairs have been made.

In Totius Street, a leak was reported in November last year and has still not been attended to. In Leipoldt Street, a pipe has been leaking for more than two weeks, while Johan Eksteen, who lives on Eeufees Street, has sat with a water leak in his driveway for three weeks.

According to Vermooten, during a previous encounter with the director of the Department of Water and Sanitation, she was told that the burst pipes are a result of cold weather and that the department is prioritising large bursts.

“My question is, can we afford so much filtered water going to waste? Isn’t this another fruitless and wasteful expenditure on the side of STLM, where the taxpayer must bear the brunt? I find it ironic that we have treated water flowing into storm water drains in this area, while residents in less developed areas, such as Doornkop and Somaphepha, have to cart water in buckets and wheelbarrows.”

Alderman Vermooten also informed the Middelburg Observer that she has tabled a motion of sympathy during Tuesday’s ordinary council sitting on the continued burst pipes and wasting of treated water.

“The ANC-led municipality is failing its residents,” Vermooten concluded.

• The Middelburg Observer has referred Alderman Vermooten’s complaints to the Steve Tshwete communications office, requesting feedback on why these leaks remain unattended. No response was received by the time of publication.