SCOTTBURGH residents were yesterday surprised with their own waterfall at the main beach. The pipe which carries drinking water under the railway bridge over the Mpambanyoni River burst on Monday night, spewing thousands of liters of clean drinking water into the ocean.
Chris Fourie, community co-ordinator for AfriForum in KwaZulu-Natal, said that a concerned community member contacted AfriForum’s office yesterday morning, informing the organisation of the massive leak. “AfriForum contacted the Ugu District Municipality and their area manager: water services confirmed that a technician would be sent out immediately,” said Mr Fourie.
“There was a small water leak in this pipe which the Ugu District Municipality fixed last week, or so it seemed. The quality of workmanship is a major concern as this pipeline is relatively new and aging infrastructure can’t be blamed,” he added.
In her speech at the Kwazulu-Natal Water Conservation Indaba in Scottburgh on June 27 2013, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, said, “Let water unite us… water is life. Conserve it. Respect it. Enjoy it.”
The integral part of this Indaba was the signing of the pledge by all stakeholders, including the Department of Water Affairs, COGTA, SALGA, Water Service Authorities and Water Boards, which included the Ugu District Municipality, as gesture of support and commitment to the Water Conservation Forum.
Julius Kleynhans, Head of Environmental Affairs for AfriForum, said according to the State of Non-revenue Water (2012), municipal water alone amounted to 36.8 percent of non-revenue water, of which 25.4 percent can be attributed to leakage. “Every year South Africans are reminded that this is a water-scarce country and communities are told to preserve the scarce resource. It is time for Government to set an example to the citizens of South Africa and practice what it preaches”, said Mr Kleynhans.
