Pensioner to the rescue for Hambanathi water crisis
Former Tongaat water treatment works employee Joseph Mthembu had already offered his solution in May during the post-flood public meeting attended by water and sanitation deputy minister David Mahlobo, but nobody took notice.
While authorities still grapple with red tape to restore water supply to Hambanathi and Tongaat, a retired resident has come up with an innovative solution which could see water in at least the township’s taps by the end of August.
Last week, when eThekwini deputy mayor Philani Godfrey Mavundla arrived to address close to 1 000 protesters who closed the R102 with burning tyres and debris to vent their anger after 74 days without water, Mthembu again offered his suggestion to get water to the township.
He said he just needed permission and equipment to connect a pipe running past the township to solve the problem.
Mavundla took notice.
“I am happy that at last the deputy mayor listened and took me and other residents to inspect the site. He was happy to give us the go-ahead and by end of August we will have water,” a confident Mthembu said.
Tongaat has been without water since the first floods in April after the town’s water treatment plant was totally destroyed. Today (Wednesday) residents have been without reliable water supply for 81 days as of June 29.
Certain areas are receiving tap water for two to four hours daily, but areas such as Hambanathi are solely dependent on water tankers.
At last week’s protest, residents accused volunteers directing water tankers of selling water and only providing services to certain streets and individuals.
Ward 62 councillor, Thobekani Nene, told residents his ward was only allocated seven of the 28 water tankers sent to Tongaat.
“Three of those tankers are specifically allocated to Hambanathi. I am aware of complaints about drivers being rude and accusations that water is being sold. I have asked on a community WhatsApp group called Ubunye beHambanathi that residents provide me with at least three volunteers whom they trust to help with the distribution of water, but there was no response,” said Nene.
To address the issue, Nene and his volunteers will no longer be part of the water tanker distribution process.
A community delegation and a municipal worker will now monitor the tankers.
In the meantime, residents were told that at least 20 more JoJo tanks would be installed to cater for each street.
The process of installing the JoJo tanks, has already started.
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