Water source under siege

The effectiveness of security measures at the Olifantspoort Water Treatment Plant that is operated by Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) is being questioned after the facility was under siege from members of a local community again last Thursday. No water was pumped for two days, leaving the city’s reservoirs at alarmingly low levels.
A week before the plant was also shut down for two days while another local community protested at the plant, allegedly assaulted a plant employee and took the keys. LNW Spokesperson Simon Mpamonyane thereafter confirmed that security measures would be intensified but was not at liberty to disclose details thereof ‘because it may compromise the intended security measures’.
Communications and Marketing Manager of Polokwane Municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo told Polokwane Observer on Friday that the municipality had only received a notification from LNW that the plant was not operating for two days due to community unrest. Mothapo stated that all attempts to source further information from LNW at that stage proved futile. Polokwane Observer also made several calls to Mpamonyane, but he could not be located.
On Tuesday, Mpamonyane was located and confirmed the two incidents, saying that LNW has engaged with Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) and Lepelle-Nkumpi Municipality and has arranged several meetings with the affected communities. “They were complaining about their poor internal water supply. The parties agreed with the affected community to intervene in addressing their water shortage plight and traced the problematic areas. Due to the intervention and with the assistance of the Police, keys were returned and the scheme was put back into operation,” Mpamonyane said.
According to Mpamonyane, another group of protestors from Ward 21 in Lepelle-Nkumpi Municipality, stormed the plant last Thursday and again took keys from operating staff. “A team from LNW and CDM was joined by the Police and the keys were returned to LNW. Community leaders reported that they took the keys since they felt that their issue of water shortages was not being addressed appropriately,” Mpamonyane explained.
Polokwane Observer asked Mpamonyane to explain how it happened that, despite “intensified security operations”, the second attack took place, to which Mpamonyane said that LNW has concluded bulk water services contracts with CDM and Polokwane Municipality which prohibits LNW as the bulk water provider to have direct contact with municipal customers and that he could not comment further.
Mpamonyane however said that LNW is engaging with the affected stakeholders with the aim of avoiding the same situation in the future. “Community structures should refrain from storming the Olifantspoort Scheme to interfere with the operation of the scheme and LNW joins the affected water services authorities in condemning the conduct of some community members to invade the Olifantspoort Scheme since it has negative consequences to wider people in the supply area,” Mpamonyane said.
CDM Communications Manager, Jabu Masondo, confirmed that the municipality was engaging with LNW to manage the situation.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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