BETHAL – Just when Bethal residents thought things could not get worse because of their electricity battles, they are now, along with residents from other towns in the Govan Mbeki municipal area, being hit with water throttling.
Areas around Bethal have been without water for days and many residents have to collect their water from the AfriForum JoJo tanks at the AC Vorentoe Church in Regent Street or from water tankers.
According to several complaints, the municipal water tankers drive past too fast and residents cannot fill their containers in time. There are also concerns as to where the tankers are getting the water.
“How must it be expected for an elderly person or those with physical challenges to collect buckets of water?” asked Ms Mariaan Chamberlain, DA councillor.
She said several areas have been without water for more than a week as a result of the low water pressure.
“People cannot flush their toilets which is a health concern.
“With the spike in Covid-19, people are unable to wash their hands and are forced to live in unhealthy environments,” ended Ms Chamberlain.
Mr Hennie Bekker, district coordinator, Lowveld District AfriForum said that the throttling of water is unacceptable and that GMM is depriving people of their basic human right to have access to water.
“People are being treated worse than animals by GMM.”
GMM released a media statement stating that the throttling of water will negatively impact the supply of water to the communities of eMbalenhle, Leandra, Kinross, Evander, Secunda, Trichardt, Bethal and eMzinoni.
GMM was to hold a meeting with Rand Water on 19 November regarding repayment proposal, however, this meeting was postponed.
