Water, water, water… where is the water?
Even though Ward 8 residents were affected the most during the water outage, there were also other parts of town without water
A few weeks ago, the Vryheid Herald reported on the issue of AbaQulusi Local Municipality not honouring their debt relief agreement with Eskom. But now, residents are even more concerned that the town may not just lean towards darkness, but that the taps will run completely dry as well, since there are households that have been without water for almost 20 days. This past week, more and more complaints poured in regarding water. On March 8, there was an update from the municipality saying that repairs on a high lift pipeline outside the Klipfontein Water Treatment Works were taking place. Since then, no other updates have been given. On Saturday, community members lashed out on the municipality’s Facebook page, demanding answers regarding the water issue, but in turn were answered with complete silence from both ‘powers that be’.
Even though Ward 8 residents were affected the most during the water outage, there were also other parts of town without water. IFP Councillor Elaine Rodway from Ward 8 ‘bent over backwards’ since the water outage began to try and resolve the issue, or at least get answers from the Department of Technical Services.
Councillor Rodway commented that, “As Ward 8 councillor, it has been deeply disturbing for me to see the crippling effects of the water crisis on parts of Ward 8 in AbaQulusi. Water is not only a basic service, but a basic human right and for parts of my ward to be deprived of it has been a source of great frustration to me. The position of councillor does not change the fact that I too am a resident of this ward and therefore face many of the same challenges that have become a daily occurrence throughout town, namely interruptions in the water supply and power outages, over and above load-shedding, so I can share in the frustrations of my constituents with the utmost sincerity and compassion. For the residents of Vryheid Hill, who have been without water for almost three weeks at the time of this writing, I can assure you that your pleas for assistance have not gone unnoticed and I have made every attempt to get feedback from the Department of Technical Services and the Water Department throughout this ongoing service delivery nightmare. As an IFP councillor, I stand strongly by our manifesto and will do my utmost to ensure that we always strive to uphold the principles stated therein, specifically and especially pertaining to service delivery. We must ensure that basic services are prioritised if we are to have any hope of prosperity in our town. We must back up our words with actions. Words without actions are meaningless. We cannot move forward without a strong foundation to build from, and basic services are at the core of that foundation. Businesses are suffering, residents are suffering and the situation is unacceptable.
“On day 20 of the water crisis at Vryheid Hill, following several requests for feedback, I eventually received confirmation from the water manager that payment would be made ‘today’ (Monday, March 18) and that ‘repairs will be done and the motor can be connected and people can have water’. It is unthinkable to me that anyone can be expected to go without a service that they are billed for monthly, but don’t receive for approximately 70% of a month. Not only have Vryheid Hill residents been deprived of water, but they have also been mostly kept in the proverbial dark with regard to communication on this critical matter. In light of this, I will be advocating for stronger and more consistent communication from Technical Services in an attempt to avoid future incidents where consumers are left waterless without warning.
“On January 22, I created a WhatsApp group to deal specifically with service delivery complaints and reports as a platform to monitor and report faulty streetlights, traffic lights, potholes, road signs, road markings, and water and electrical issues. This has assisted greatly in ensuring that the relevant departments responsible for delivering services can be kept updated on matters that require their attention. I believe that we as a community can also play an active role in uplifting our town and working together for change and prosperity. It won’t necessarily happen overnight, but we need to start somewhere.”
ALSO READ: Will Vryheid be wrapped in permanent darkness soon?
The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
