Farmers have rejected allegations that the flow of the Buffalo River has been impeded and/or diverted by sandbags.
Last week, Pradeep Ramlall, Umzinyathi’s water services manager, told the Courier that this is against the law in terms of the National Water Act Section 21.
“It brought about a total stoppage of flow at Tayside since Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We have the Department of Water and Sanitation to intervene as it almost brought a collapse of services. When consumers got home there was a disruption because we had no water by the evening.
“We are engaging the Department of Water and Sanitation to investigate in terms of the law.”
However, Dave Yates, chairman of the De Jagersdrift Farmers’ Association said it was important to know all the facts as in a time of crisis ‘it is important to hold hands rather than to blame each other’.
“Many farmers use sandbags as a way of creating a pool in the river to allow them to pump water from the Buffalo River in terms of their water rights which they pay for. There is nothing strange. Sandbags cannot stop the flow of the river. The river was still flowing over the weir at Tayside and farmers down stream were still pumping from the river at the time when Umzinyathi said they discovered the sandbags.
“The act refers to diverting the river. Sandbags do not divert the stream. Naturally seepage through the bags will of course ensure a flow of water.”
Mr Yates said the Department of Water Affairs should look at releasing more water from Chelmsford dam which is said to be over 70% full.
Asked about boreholes on farms, Mr Yates said in terms of the law, every borehole – whether in town or on a farm – has to be registered.

Positve note
On a more positive note, farmers met with Umzinyathi officials on Monday morning and it was said afterwards that both parties are working together to ensure that the taps keep flowing in both the town and farming areas rather than ‘playing the blame game’.
Crisis in Amajuba District
The water crisis is continuing with the rainfall almost of what it should be. Water is still cut off in the high lying areas of Dundee and Glencoe. Wasbank is relying almost entirely on trucked in water which has put more strain on resources.
Parts of Nyanyadu, which is part of the Amajuba District Municipality, have been without running water for the past two weeks. uThukela Water referred comment to the Amajuba District.
However, all their listed landlines are either permanently engaged or ring unanswered. Amajuba was recently named as a class C municipality which makes it one of the worst performing municipalities in the country.
This was confirmed by the Auditor General and the Department of Co-operative and Traditional Affairs that governs local government.