Water war: Municipality denies claims of contaminated water
In response to recent claims that the water in Bekkersdal and Simunye is contaminated, Rand West City Municipality has issued a counterclaim.
Following recent claims by residents that the water in the Bekkersdal and Simunye areas is contaminated, the municipality has denied these allegations.
On July 28, the Randfontein Herald reported about residents and organisations who took it upon themselves to test the water in Bekkersdal. Civil society organisations, including Be the Future Foundation, WaterCAN, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, and Defend Our Democracy, collaborated to conduct independent tests and found that seven out of 11 water samples were unsafe.
The organisations made several demands after the Rand West City Local Municipality failed to give them feedback.
• Read the initial article here: ‘Deafening silence’ as residents fear contaminated drinking water
The mayor’s office has come forward and described the incidents as misinformation that falsely claims the water is contaminated.
Municipal spokesperson Phillip Montshiwa emphasised that Rand Water conducted tests on July 22 with samples from Bekkersdal and Simunye. He noted the results confirmed the water is uncontaminated.
“Even though these false statements were not verified, we requested a recent scientific report to assure residents that the quality of the water is high. This report can be made available on request,” he said.
He further urged residents to refrain from spreading false information.
