Mamelodi residents have no water for almost three weeks
It all started when trucks stopped filling up JoJo tanks because the drivers claim their salaries were not paid for months.
Water shortages in the Skierlik area in ward 100 led to bakkie and truck owners starting businesses selling 20-litre water buckets for R20.
Kopanong, Lethabong, Mooiplaats, Pienaarspoort and other areas were left stranded without water for almost three weeks.
It all started when trucks stopped filling up JoJo tanks because drivers claimed their salaries were not paid for months.
John Mabunda, a resident of the Kopanong area, said trucks delivering water just disappeared into thin air without saying when they will come to fill up the tanks.
“We are going for the third week in a row without water and soon people are dying of thirst.
“We have tried talking to some of the truck drivers to find out what was happening, only to be told they were not paid their salaries for almost four months,” said Mabunda.
The only time they delivered water was last week when they were paid half of their salaries and they filled up only three JoJo tanks in the Kopanong area.
Mabunda said they saw this as an opportunity for truck and bakkie owners to start making money by selling water which they collected from nearby townships like Mamelodi. They are charging R20 per 20-litre bucket.
Residents have vowed to go on a protest should Tshwane municipality fail to fix the situation.
A resident from Skierlik, Lilian Lalombe (59) said the water crisis started in February when the truck drivers embarked on a go-slow.
She said the drivers used to fill up the tanks almost every day, but that all stopped and the drivers would disappear for days without saying what was happening.
“Every day it’s a struggle and we are now forced to buy water from people who have cars.
“Sometimes we buy water just to cook and take care of our families,” said Lalombe.
She added she was taking care of her grandchild who needs a milk bottle and porridge, which both needs water to prepare.
Another resident, Maria Mokwetsi (59) said “every little water we have, we need to save it or use it wisely”.
She said the situation was bad enough to buy water which is supposed to be delivered for free.
“People are making money out of the situation,” said Mokwetsi.
She added she has four children all going to school and needed to bathe and wear clean school uniforms every day.
“We desperately need water to cook, bathe, wash and drink. The school clothes are dirty and I don’t know when we are getting water,” said Mokwetsi.
Rekord is still waiting for comment from Tshwane metro.
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