Illegal water connection removed from Mams reservoir

Tshwane’s metro Water and Sanitation Department led an operation to remove illegal connections at Mamelodi Reservoir 4 on Tuesday morning.

This operation follows complaints by residents of Mahube Valley, Ikageng extension 4 and 5, who had been experiencing a prolonged water outage.

The water outage has led to businesses, such as car washes and non-profit organisations, to lose customers and left NPOs unable to service residents.

Tshwane metro spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo said subsequent to the complaints, the region 6 water unit, responsible for the upkeep and ensuring water distribution, in conjunction with the Bulk Water Services teams, carried out an inspection on the water network.

He said it is through this check-up that a ground-bound pipeline, that served as an illegal conduit of water to the nearby Bavianspoort settlement, was found.

The TMPD was present throughout the operation as artisans had to be safeguarded while detaching the illegal water conduit.

“The illegal pipeline was cut up rendering it unusable. The city also ensured the closure of window frames with steel slates to make it difficult to break into the reservoir chamber where the illegal connection to pressure reducing valves and points was made,” said Mashigo.

Jeffrey Tlwaela from ward 93 said the water issued was a problem for almost two months in the mornings and in evenings.

“We just found out there is an illegal connection on our reservoir that serves the people from neighbouring informal settlement,” said Tlwaela.

They have connected pipes to our main valve in the reservoir that supply affecting residents of wards 99 and 193.

Tlwaela was disappointed to find there were no security guards at the reservoir and it was easy for the people to illegally gain access to the reservoir.

He further said Tshwane metro should get 24-hour security guards.

Tlwaela said metro officials are to blame for the illegal connection because they have the proper tools to open and close valves at the reservoir.

“I believe they might have a hand in helping the perpetrators to connect their pipe from our reservoir,” said Tlwaela.

Nellmapius residents living in Mmapula, Tebogo, Leseko, Gonea, Moeletsi and Gaugela streets also had the same challenge of having no water at their homes.

ALSO READ: Tshwane metro slammed on R1-billion irregular expenditure

The residents complained that they were unable to cook, take medication or use the bathroom.

Sibongile Nkosi founder of Vhathu Vhothe Abuse centre said their daily services demand that they must have water at all times.

Other organisations and car washes threaten to close their businesses because of the water crisis in Nellmapius.

Nkosi said they have more than 30 clients per day and they need to use the bathrooms, drink water and get food the centre sometimes cook for them.

“We are unable to do that and the metro failed to inform Nellmapius residents about the shortage of water,” said Nkosi.

The residents further complain that to get water, they need to wake up after midnight because that is the only time the taps have water but also only for a few hours.

Mashigo further said now the municipality has removed the illegal connections and adjusted the pressure, the reservoir is picking up.

“The municipality would like to commend the residents affected by the water outage for their patience and the water supply difficulties they endured for two consecutive weeks,” said Mashigo.

Tshwane metro pleaded with the residents across the city to report to the TMPD acts of vandalism, tampering with electricity and water infrastructure as well as illegal connections to the water network.

Residents are urged to report any suspicious activities around the city’s infrastructure to 012 358 7095/96.

Mashigo could not give comment on the issue of security guards.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram