POLOKWANE – Ladanna residents recently had to watch water streaming unchecked down Ladanna Street while they were forced to do without water in their homes for five days.
Residents from the 18 affected households in Ladanna Street are mostly elderly people. Those who spoke to Review said they did not know which way to turn or what to do about the situation anymore.
Water had been flowing from one of the house’s water meter taps for three months, yet complaints to the municipality had been ignored, they claimed.
“We are tired of water problems, and of seeing water running down the street and being wasted while we do not have water for our most basic needs,” residents said, adding that the municipality had not even seen fit to supply water tankers in this period.
Municipal head of communications, Tidimalo Chuene, was unavailable to comment on this matter on several occasions.
However, Matshidiso Mothapo, a municipal spokesperson, said a water pipe had burst in Doornkraal Street and this was the reason for the water shortage.
He said the reason why it took so long to repair a water pipe was that all the pipes in the system were connected. This meant that a series of valves had to be closed when repairs were done, affecting more users.
He said, because the water was under pressure, it did not stop flowing immediately when valves were closed. The leaking water meter tap would be attended to, he promised.
Water issues can be reported and followed up at (015) 290 2376.
