Dry December for coast

In three days more than a 1000 residents signed the petition demanding that action be taken by the South African government against this urban terrorism and gross negligence from the Ugu District Municipality.

The couple behind the petition are Rheiner and Vanessa le Roux who have been living in Woodgrange, Hibberdene for six years.

Ms le Roux said Ugu has failed the residents of the South Coast to resolve this matter. On a yearly basis, at times more than thrice a year the water supply to the residents of the South Coast is switched off by the Ugu – the reasons they provide for this is either “faulty pipes” or “sabotage by former workers.”

She said the police has not intervened, nor has the government as a whole.

“This severely impacts the livelihood, health, tourism and most of all, the residents. We are well aware that other petitions have been presented before –
however our motto is simple: change the things you cannot accept, and accept the things you cannot change. And in this case of the water crisis, it can be changed.”

Meantime, Vanessa said that during this time of Covid-19, water is more precious and needed than ever to curb the spread of the disease as well as many other diseases.

“Aside from this, no one and nothing can live without water. Water is a basic human right – not a privilege but a right. Prior to this recent event, military action was promised if this situation had to occur once more – so take the promised action. Attempting to contact Ugu is met with silence and no action.”

They have sent the results of the petition, so far, to the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Infrastructure, the Department of Police, the Department of Health, the South African Human Rights Commission, the Premier of KZN, the Office of the Presidency and the Ugu Municipality.

Vanessa said they want government and relevant parties to take action; to solve the water crisis permanently by dealing with the saboteurs harshly (it is after all urban terrorism) and to remove the incompetent parties from Ugu.

“We as residents of the South Coast are demanding action to be taken – not in 10 years’ time, but now.”

The petition will remain active and the couple will keep on reaching out to the relevant departments.

If you would like to sign the petition go to: www.change.org/uguwatercrisis.

For more information please Whatsapp ONLY at 0765159293.

Dry taps leave disabled and elderly to suffer

Horrifying tales of how residents are battling to live without water are being reported to the Herald.

Oslo Beach resident Sharon Stevenson (71) was without water for seven days.

The pensioner who had a back operation described her waterless week as ‘extremely tough’ as she was unable to carry water or wash.

She had to rely on her children to bring her water from Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

“I don’t wish what I went through on anyone,” she added.

Suburbs of Pumula and parts of Umzumbe and Hibberdene have been without water for some 30 days.

Residents say the call centre ignores reference numbers.

In the absence of Ugu not supplying water tanks the Pumula community erected a water tank last Saturday, which was eventually filled by a Ugu tanker.

Ugu spokesman, France Zama said the whole northern system was affected as per previous reports stated (suspected purposeful disrupt) but on December 13 the system was starting to recover as per consumers’ reports in Woodgrange/Hibberdene.

“Unfortunately as reported the raw pumps had to be shut due to high rate of debris caused by high levels of the Umzimkhulu river. Again on Tuesday night the plant had to dislodge a huge amount of water due to high levels of turbidity compromising water quality. The system is still recovering from the above mentioned incidents,” said Mr Zama.

Margate has also been badly affected.

Peter Rees (76) of Margate Drive has been living without water for some 19 days.

Mr Rees who has lived most of his life in Margate said he has never seen the coast in such a miserable state.

He said that between the automated replies from Ugu and the very little information from the friendly, young and sympathetic voices from the operators at Ugu’s call centre it was difficult to get any updates from the municipality as to when water would be restored.

“What must we do to shake things up? Declare a state of emergency?”

He said in the 62 years that his family owned flats and shops in Margate he has never had so many unoccupied.

The retired school teacher said people, like himself, have invested in the coast and to see it progressively getting worse was worrying.

Yesterday (Wednesday) Mr Rees reported that work was being done to fix a major break in a water main in Marine Drive, Margate.

He is hopeful water will be restored to Margate and Manaba areas soon.

Last week Uvongo’s lagoon and beach was closed for recreational purposes after a sewage spill.

Mr Zama confirmed that a contractor was appointed and started yesterday (Wednesday) to fix an old asbestos sewer pipe which has collapsed, leaving raw sewage discharging on the streets, driveways of some residential properties and finally finding its way into the tributary of the Uvongo river.

In the interim, a resident living on Hibiscus Road in Marburg reported a water leak on November 20.

Councillor Ajith Rajaram met with officials 14 days ago who promised to send a team to repair it. A plumber arrived and never returned and to date nothing has been done.

“The leak is getting worse. The resident is old and sickly and he is stressed that his house may get damaged.”

Cllr Rajaram questioned what is really going on with Ugu.

“Millions of litres of water is being wasted while other people in the district don’t have a drop of water.”

The Herald asked Mr Zama this week if South Coasters can expect any intervention from government to sort out the ongoing water crisis.

No response to this question was received.

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