A community works together to assist the metro with water supply

A ward 59 resident in Muckleneuk has opened up his gates for his fellow community members by allowing them to draw water from his borehole.

Chantel Van der Merve (Not her real name) said this was her way of giving back to her community as many residents living in the area did not have boreholes.

“The current situation in our municipality is not conducive for our elderly citizens. Recently there was a cholera outbreak in our city, so I am trying to help my people with water and not just water but drinkable water,” Van der Merve said.

Councillor Shaun Wilkinson said Van der Merve offered her borehole water for neighbours to access free of charge.

“They have a very reliable borehole with high-quality, tested water, fit for drinking. If she can assist you in any way, please let me know.

If we can obtain affordable containers, we can also deliver, as we saw with a previous crisis, some people do not have proper containers,” said Wilkinson.

The councillor further urges residents with bakkies to assist with transporting water to elderly residents in and around the suburb.

Community leader ask an assistant from residents

Wilkinson advised all those who were willing to help to notify him in order to arrange how and when the deliveries will take place.

“If there are other residents with the ability to share borehole water, please send me your details,” he said.

A residents grateful for an assistant from their fellow community member

Nick Kruger said it was noble of the Van der Merve family to assist the community as the community did not trust the water supplied by the municipality’s trucks.

“It is our responsibility as a community to also help the municipality where we can instead of folding our arms and waiting on them.

“I would also like to call on every resident in our ward who have boreholes to also open their gates for their fellow neighbours,” Kruger added.

The Van der Merve’s intervention follows the metro’s challenges with supplying water to its residents.

However, the municipality blamed the water utility for its woes, as they said they get their bulk of water directly from Rand Water.

“I confirm that the current water shortages experienced by Tshwane and several municipalities in Gauteng and Mpumalanga are due to problems at Rand Water, described in their own press statements as due to several power outages,” City mayor Cilliers Brink said on Tuesday.

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