Residents in wards 4,5 and 15 have been struggling without water or with very low water pressure for the past three weeks.

One of the major areas that have struggled with water is the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) offices and the subsequent housing complexes and the whole Agricultural College Campus.

One of the residents at the DWS, Robert Keys, has stated that the continued lack of water is a gross failure of constitutional right of citizens.

“How can we be without water for this long? This shows a disregard for the wellbeing of residents,” states a frustrated Keys, who has had to live without running water for weeks. Although water was supplied with tankers from time to time it was usually at times when residents are not always home to fill buckets and containers.

It is believed that that the main cause of the water supply issue is due to a water leak in a pipe that needs to be replaced beside railway lines next to the N12 in the direction of Klerksdorp. Authorisation from Transnet had to be given for work to commence. Repairs also have to be done under the supervision of Transnet.

DA Ward Councillors Madra de Bruin of Ward 15 and Johan Zerwick of Ward 4 states that they have been in constant consultation with the Municipal Water and Sanitation department to solve the issue and to give feedback to the residents.

One of the reasons for the delay was that an incorrect pipe size was ordered. The correct pipe is expected to arrive this week and officials are hopeful to have all repairs done by the end of the week.
The JB Marks Municipality was asked for comment on Thursday, February 12, but has not yet responded to the Herald’s enquiry at the time of publication.