Harding threatens ‘extreme measures’
Although the community raised many other service delivery issues the town faced, the main focus was on why Ugu and politicians were turning a blind eye to their needs.
The Harding community says its had enough of empty promises from Ugu.
On Monday this week, the angry community blockaded roads and brought the town to a standstill, wanting to know when their water would be restored.
ALSO READ : Still no water – and still no clear answers from Ugu
Although the community raised many other service delivery issues the town faced, the main focus was on why Ugu and politicians were turning a blind eye to their needs.
Protest leaders said what happened on Monday was just a warning, threatening that if issues such as lack of water, sewage control, verge maintenance, refuse collection and electricity problems were not addressed, they would resort to extreme measures.
“We don’t want to protest but it seems our leaders are forcing us to, this is the only language they understand,” said one protester.
For many months, the Harding community has been left to fend for itself when it comes to water, a situation exacerbated by Ugu’s recent labour problems.
“We pay rates, we are billed for water we don’t even have – how is that?” asked another protester.
The protesters were demanding to be addressed by Ugu management.
The top brass however were a no-show, sending Umuziwabantu speaker, Mzwandile Nyathi to collect the memorandum on their behalf.
Umuziwabantu mayor, Dixie Nciki said they too were affected by the ongoing Ugu water crisis.
She added, however, that they could not place the blame entirely on Ugu as they too were part of government, and believed Ugu was doing its best under the circumstances.
“We understand that people are suffering, especially those in the rural areas. However, there are plans to install two boreholes, with R400 000 budgeted for this,” she said.
Ugu mayor Sizwe Ngcobo added that trucks were being deployed to the areas in need of water.
However, no timeframe or long-term solutions have been shared by Ugu on how it planned to restore full water supply in Harding.
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