• Frans le Grange writes:

What is water? Water is a basic human right.

We don’t receive what we should in Randfontein. I pay my account every month to Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM). They inform me via the Randfontein Herald’s newspaper that RWCLM is only going to give me 20% of the water. I pay every account in full, and I don’t owe RWCLM a cent.

They don’t say when, which day, what time, or how long the water will be off. I must give my animals about 10 litres of water a day. What must I do now? There is washing that needs to be done, dishes that need to be washed, and cooking to be done. What about the bathrooms where I need to clean myself, wash my hair, shave, bathe and shower? How do you do that with small children who need to go to school? Not to mention the toilet itself.

I’m not even asking how much sewage runs down the streets. I saw the sewage truck on November 9, driving in.

When they pump out, that’s when the problems are the same as sewerage that overflows. It is unhealthy, it smells, and birds drink from this water because where else must they get water? What about the fish that must swim in that sewage river?

My question is, where did the 20% decision come from?

If it is a decision that RWCLM decided, then it was a very bad decision made by them because there are about 69 council members who must manage our town. Or is it a decision from officials of the executive mayor who decided on their own? Perhaps it is an arrangement which RWCLM made with Rand Water, since they might owe them millions.

RWCLM cannot honour the arrangement, despite the circumstances that RWCLM used to be in good condition. Now, RWCLM, Westonaria included, is bankrupt because the money was stolen.

You, as a taxpayer, are being limited in water. If you get water, it is not clean to drink. We want the Council to come to the public without promises and tell us what is really going on.

To me, it seems like poor management.

Sunday, about 22:00, there was still no water when I went to bed. There is more water being wasted with all the air that is coming out of the tap. In the meantime, the streets run full of clean water due to burst pipes or water meters not working properly.

Regards

Your dry, thirsty resident.

The Herald approached the municipality for comment. Spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa acknowledged the enquiry but had not responded at the time of publication. Any feedback will be published once received – Ed.