Sand River residents have expressed anger at the City of Mbombela (CoM) after municipal spokesperson Joseph Ngala told a national television audience on August 31 that the municipality is supplying the community with water.

The residents strongly dispute the claim, saying they have been without a reliable municipal water supply for years, despite taps being installed in the area more than 10 years ago.

According to residents, the taps supplied water for less than two months before running dry. They said they have since been forced to share available water sources with animals or purchase water – an expense most simply cannot afford.

ALSO READ: Sand River now has some water supply after seven years

Residents also claim that municipal water tankers stopped supplying the area before the Covid-19 pandemic, and that regular deliveries have not resumed, despite the municipality recently acquiring additional water tankers.

Residents challenge municipal claims

“Ngala has indicated that he disrespects the people because he goes on national television and lies to the nation that they are supplying us with water while they are not,” said Vusi Nyathikazi.

“We have been begging our ward councillor to at least send us water tankers, but they did not come. They only come when they are called by those who can pay them,” he added.

“We have now made peace with the fact that the municipality really does not care about us. The taps were installed to get votes in 2016 and, after they got them, they disappeared on us.”

Demands for proof

“We requested that Mayor Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko visit us to address the issue of water, but she did not come. That shows how they do not take us seriously. The ward councillor has been useless since coming to power,” said Vuyisile Mokoena.

“Now Ngala has said on television that they are supplying us with water. Can he come back to us with proof?”

ALSO READ: CoM promises to resolve water issues in Sand River

“One of the reasons why the municipality is not performing is because they have people like Ngala who will lie to the nation as if everything is well. It is not,” said Johanne Manzini.

“He said in the media that water would be restored in the area by July, but we are now in September with nothing. The municipality needs to take us seriously because we feel they are deliberately depriving us of a basic human right.”

Municipality silent

The CoM was given an opportunity to respond to the residents’ allegations, including claims that Sand River has not received a reliable municipal water supply, that water tankers stopped servicing the area before the Covid-19 pandemic, and that Ngala’s television comments were inaccurate.

Ngala was also asked to clarify when and where municipal water tankers have been supplying Sand River, the frequency of such deliveries, and to respond to residents’ claim that the taps installed about 10 years ago only supplied water for less than two months.

The municipality was further asked to provide clarity on the alleged July deadline for restoring the water supply and whether there is a current plan and timeline to provide residents with a reliable supply of water.

Ngala had not responded to the media enquiry by the time of publication.