Letter: Left high and dry

Mandeni councillor Cllr Kathleen Naidoo writes:

The community of ward three Mandeni was left without water for about two days.

According to information received the community of ward five requested a bridge and roads to be built in the past financial year. This did not materialise. Hence the political unrest and the water purification plant being sabotaged.

Bearing the brunt of this is ward three.

This ward is the biggest contributor to rates and the running if the municipality…they have threatened withholding their rates.

Residents of this ward were left without water for long hours. Bottled water at the local shops were sold out.

Some of the residents who are on dialysis had to be hospitalised due to infection setting in. The physically challenged and aged had a difficult time. There is also a hospice in this ward that had a difficult time as they have terminally ill patience and water is essential for the daily upkeep and hygiene.

I must place on record my thanks to the Ilembe mayor, management and staff for working in dangerous conditions and for the effort they have put in during this crisis in filling up the tankers and delivering water to the different areas in the ward.

This water strike also effects the industries in Isithebe. Should the strike continue, industries will be closed, creating unemployment and job losses. This will seriously effect our economy.

There are various platforms and structures in place to address service delivery issues. We live in a democratic country. One needs to address issues of this nature in a diplomatic manner. Respect for a fellow human is essential.

Mandeni will never see growth if there is deliberate sabotage and blatant damage to infrastructure. Let us focus on building up Mandeni.

Respect and human dignity is essential.