More than 28 complaints to the Tshwane metro over a period of seven years about thousands of litres of water going to waste every month due to a faulty valve has a homeowners’ association in Faerie Glen up in arms.
The irate chairperson, H Oosthuizen of the Casala Homeowners’ Association at 35 Ottosdal Place, Faerie Glen, gave proof of various calls with reference numbers and persons contacted in an effort to get the municipality to shut off a faulty water valve. All calls, despite reference numbers given when they were able to get through and explain the problem, have amounted to nothing for the past seven years.
“We are trying to find a water leak at our premises, but cannot do so unless the Tshwane metro water mains valve to the complex is completely closed off.”
The homeowners’ association is losing 50 000 to 60 000 litres of water every month due to the leak, which cannot be found or repaired unless the Tshwane metro repairs the faulty shut-off valve. Access to the complex is not required, as the faulty main shut-off valve is on the sidewalk in front of the complex,” Oosthuizen explained.
He said that sometimes when the homeowners lodged a complaint, they received a new and different telephone number to phone, but in most cases there was no response from the Tshwane Customer Care Centre.
“Now we have yet again received another number to phone. The response states that the number is that of a call centre. We have made many calls to the Tshwane metro call centres, but in most cases, after holding on for more than 20 minutes, we are cut off or given yet another number to phone. We phone the Water department’s call centre, hold on for 20 minutes and then get cut off. Who is going to pay for the numerous 20-minute call and cut-off charges?” he asked.
He said that the homeowners’ association also requested urgent intervention by the Presidential Hotline to resolve the matter, but still nothing has been done. In an effort to find out why the municipality had not reacted in the seven-year period, Rekord attempted to call the various numbers given by Oosthuizen. This proved Oosthuizen’s point that their calls were not being answered.
Juan Du Pissani, an independent geologist, said that faulty water taps were often the cause of sinkholes, such as those in the Centurion area. “The seepage often is not noticeable. It causes cavities underground – even in areas that are not dolomite areas and this is often also the reason why water pipes break,” he said.
“I am rather surprised that the municipality has not yet reacted to a fault of seven years, because their technicians are well aware of the damages that faulty valves can cause,” he added.
At the time of going to press, Rekord was unable to get in contact with the metro for comment regarding the problem.
