A father from eMakhazeni (Belfast) is concerned about his teenage daughter’s mental health due to the ongoing water problems in the town. He does not wish to be identified, but said municipalities fail to grasp the terrible impact that going without water for days has on families. “What do you say to your daughter, who has to go to school for four days without having been able to bathe or shower? She is growing up, and this affects her both physically and emotionally.”

He said the entire family is distressed when they wake up to find the taps are still dry. Residents of eMakhazeni in Madala Ward, Ext 8, have been without a single drop of water since October 16. Water supply was only restored on October 28.

Tanker water fails to relieve crisis

Eugene Schemper said a water tanker arrived, but the water was so dirty it was undrinkable and could only be used to flush toilets.
“Our own family has already gone four days without water. I manage a filling station, and the restrooms had to be closed last week because there was no water. Businesses in town are suffering. There is a car wash that loses its entire income whenever there is no water,” he said.

Michael Norval, manager of a Spar supermarket, confirmed this. “There is only one water tank for the entire area, which is insufficient to assist everyone when there is no water.” At state institutions such as schools, the hospital and the prison, the situation has become unbearable. According to residents, water usage has been restricted for months. The water supply is typically cut off at 17:00 and restored the following morning; however, lately, the taps have been running dry at 20:00.

One of the residents, Riaan Labuschagne, has begun keeping a detailed record of water and electricity outages.
He has marked the days without water in blue. January shows only four blue squares; thereafter, the number increases steadily, with July recording nine days without water and one day without electricity. October shows 14 days without water and one day without electricity.

ActionSA lays criminal complaint

ActionSA mayoral candidate Daniel Maseko filed a complaint with the police yesterday morning against the Emakhazeni Local Municipality, citing what he described as ‘service delivery failures and irregularities in RDP housing allocations’.
He said: “Residents are battling sewage in their homes and water shortages; furthermore, we question who is gaining access to RDP houses intended for those in need.”

DA councillor Danie van Rensburg has also been targeted.
In a voice message, he was subjected to severe profanity and threats that his ‘face would be smashed in’.
In a response via voice message, Van Rensburg said: “A newly installed pump proved to be faulty and was taken back by the service provider. An old pump is currently being used, which operates very slowly.”

“We don’t get a chance to get the reservoir level high enough. The water is shut off from 20:00 until 04:00, and then they start pumping again. I am trying my best to keep people informed. I don’t have the authority; I am just a PR councillor. I am sitting without water myself.” Van Rensburg undertook to provide further comment, but he did not follow through on his promise.
It is not only the water supply that is a problem in the town; the roads are also nearly impassable.

Historical merger proposal resurfaces

It very nearly happened that the ANC incorporated the struggling municipality into Middelburg.
Former Middelburg mayor Mike Masina confirmed that, during his term, the ANC attempted to incorporate Hendrina and Belfast (later eMakhazeni) into the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality.
He was not in favour of this, and residents also strongly opposed the proposal.
In the end, only Hendrina was incorporated into the municipality.

Municipality unavailable for comment

Attempts to obtain comment from the Emakhazeni Local Municipality were unsuccessful.
Municipal manager Sisubiso Nkosi and Mayor Nomhle Mashele were unavailable. The head of technical services, Levert Mohlabine, did not answer his cellphone. A message was left with his secretary requesting a return call, but his call is still awaited.
Labuschagne sent a message this morning (October 30) that the town is currently without water and electricity: “It’s going to be a long weekend.”