Mayor apologises for dirty water
The mayor said he was committed to keeping his promise of giving the people of Tshwane "clean drinking water".
Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga has apologised to people affected by the contaminated water from the Rooiwal water treatment plant.
“All I can say is, I am sorry,” he told them during a visit on Wednesday.
Residents of Hammanskraal have received water soiled with faeces and some reported that the water foamed when it was boiled.
Farmers have also been affected.
The mayor visited the Rooiwal community on Wednesday afternoon in a bid to quell tension in the farming community and among residents.
He said he knew there were people deliberately trying to sabotage the city’s administration, but refrained from pointing fingers.
The metro said the main power cable to Rooiwal was cut and stolen last week‚ causing the plant to come to a halt.
Msimanga said an investigation had been commissioned to get to the bottom of the problem.
“We have now started a full-on investigation to expose what truly happened. This will include subjecting people to lie detection tests.”
The mayor said he was committed to giving Tshwane “clean drinking water, environment plus a plant that will take care of the city’s residents for years to come”.
“We have now advertised for a turn- key tender that will see a permanent solution being provided to an age-old problem.”
He said a R2-billion tender had been issued to revitalise the Rooiwal water plant.
“But in the interim, the city has dispatched all water tankers to affected areas in Hammanskraal,” Msimanga said.
During the heated discussion with farmers, Msimanga was asked if they should stop paying a fee for using water from contaminated Apies river.
The mayor said this was outside his domain and that the matter should be taken with the department of water and sanitation.
One of the farmers said the situation was dire as more fish was dying.
“People’s health is at risk as dead fish continued being sold on the streets,” said Jacqui Sunderland.
She said her dog-breeding business was also been affected.
“I can’t sell puppies now because they are sick.”
Rooiwal river was declared a disaster area by the department of water affairs in 2011 because of pollution.
Residents showed appreciation to the mayor for treating the matter with urgency.
Some were worried about the possibility of harmful chemicals being used to clean the water.
The mayor said running water would not be available for at least another seven days.
Also read:
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Tshwane mayor will finally visit Rooiwal
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