The Lekwa Local Municipality (LLM) is planning a water supply shutdown from November 11 to 27, during which the water supply will be interrupted twice a week.

According to Lubabalo Majenge, spokesperson for the LLM, the water supply will be interrupted on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week between 06:30 and 18:30. The predicted dates for the excavation are November 11, 13, 18, 21, 25, and 27.

Majenge stated that this interruption will affect residents from wards 1 to 11 and 15.

“The purpose of the planned water interruptions is to allow for the excavation of the raw water pipeline and abstraction connection at the Standerton Water Treatment Plant (WTP),” said Majenge.

This work will also cause electricity supply interruptions at the WTP.

According to Majenge, the excavation is part of the broader refurbishment of the Standerton WTP which is being implemented by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

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This project is being implemented through the Gert Sibande District Municipality as the implementing agent.

“The aim of the refurbishment is to enhance the performance of the water treatment process in order to dispatch high-quality and reliable bulk water to the reticulation network,” said Majenge.

He stated that there will be no water trucks providing water to residents during this time. He urged residents to collect and store water for use during the outages.

“We urge residents to keep taps closed to prevent water loss or damage when the water supply is restored,” said Majenge.

Standerton has been facing several water issues over the past few weeks, with some residents reporting that they have not had water since the initial outage on October 27.

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Water is the lifeblood of a typical household, as it is used to cook, clean, and perform basic household functions each day.

Several areas have not had water for many weeks, disrupting normal household functions. Residents took to Facebook to voice their frustration regarding this matter. Many residents have stated that they are not receiving a municipal service they pay for.

One resident, Bunghane Nsikayezwe, noted that the raw water pipeline has been the source of water supply interruptions on several occasions.

Another enraged resident, Sibuthe Dambuza, stated that the municipality is failing to deliver supply to communities by promising water flow and not delivering it for several weeks.

Some rural areas, such as Ext 8 and Rooikoppen, have been struggling with water shortages for several months, leading residents to become increasingly frustrated with the ongoing lack of this basic human need.