Taps dry for almost two years for Mams ext. 6
‘The situation is getting now so bad every day because the only time to get water is around midnight.'
In Mamelodi East extension 6, if you do not wake up by 02:00, there won’t be water for you for the day.
This has been the life of residents of Mmupudu, Lehatse Mphaga and Magwelereng streets for the past two years.
Jennifer Mashele, a tavern owner, said they had been experiencing numerous intermittent water shortages for at least the past two years.
She said the situation is now so bad that it is almost every day, and the only time to get water is around midnight so she is concerned about hygiene.
“The shortage of water is affecting my business because my customers are unable to use the bathroom and wash their hands,” said Mashele.
She said the problem started with low water pressure from the tap but recently the situation has gotten out of hand as the taps are dry the whole day.
Another resident, Sibongile Nkambule said the water shortages affect everyone including Phunzo Ndi Tshedza primary school, where the water taps are dry the whole day.
She said the school toilets are filthy with human waste since there is no water at the school premises.
“Sometimes when water tankers deliver water nearby, they come here to sell us the surplus at R5 per 20l,” said Nkambule.
Nkambule said she believed water should be free for everyone.
“It should be, according to our country’s constitution.”
Stanley Ngwenya said this problem is getting out of hand. “Just last week, the taps were dry even at midnight.”
He said the water tanker drivers should not be allowed to sell water that they get for free.
Ngwenya said 20l of water is not enough for the whole family.
“We need to bathe, cook, drink and do laundry,” he said.
“Tshwane metro needs to fix this problem permanently once the strike is over.
“We are paying for service delivery, so it’s time the metro starts to deliver.”
The residents demanded that in the interim the metro send water tankers every day and for free.
Ngwenya said: “Not everyone can afford to buy water every day. We come from different backgrounds.”
He added they want to know what the problem is and why it has taken so long to fix it.
The residents want a permanent solution because they are expected to pay for the service.
The metro was yet to respond to Rekord’s questions at the time of going to print.
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