Fight to restore water and sanitation continues

The South Coast Water Action Group (SCWAG) is continuing with its efforts to partner with Ugu District Municipality to restore water and sanitation to households along the South Coast- not only the coastal strip but inland areas, too.

As such, the organisation had sent a letter of intent to Ugu for a possible solution for the water and sanitation challenges through the formation of a public-private partnership.

In the letter, SCWAG, along with the South Coast Chamber of Commerce and Industry set out that they have “embarked on a solution-driven programme that is non-political and inclusive of every community forum that we can identify in the Ugu region”.

“We as a community must assist and see if we can find a workable, sustainable, affordable and environmentally friendly solutions,” said SCWAG’s Hilton O’Dwyer.

Furthermore, as public-private partnerships were unfamiliar to the organisation at municipal level, it went to great lengths to discuss it with Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to ensure that it was in line with legislation and related regulations.

According to Mr O’Dwyer, Treasury indicated that “we are entitled to enter into an agreement with our local municipality as a community”.

In the letter, SCWAG also indicated that the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 stipulates that the ”municipality must give priority to the basic needs of the local community”.

The organisation also specified that the community and municipal structures can recover and rebuild, no matter the political affiliation of municipal officials.

The letter requested a response within seven days, but none was received within the set timeframe.

Nonetheless, Mr O’Dwyer remains positive and an informal meeting with Ugu Mayor, Cllr Sizwe Ngcobo took place on Tuesday this week where it was decided that the next level of engagement will be with the Municipal Manager and his team.

“We are looking for a pragmatic solution. We believe in an open door policy and want to work with Ugu management and come up with a possible memorandum of understanding (MOU). SCWAG is not asking permission to engage, we are asking for co-operation and support for the engagement on a mutually agreed manner and term,” he added.

While SCWAG wants the ‘let’s talk’ policy comprising all parties to work, it is not against seeking legal action.

“We are digging the trenches, planning for a war but overall, we want to avoid it,” said Mr O’Dwyer.

SCWAG also has about 600 complaints from residents about their water woes between Hibberdene and Port Edward on a database.

But Mr O’Dwyer stressed that these complaints were only the tip of the iceberg.

Some of the complainants said:

* “For three years the water is on and off, for the last two months no water. I could have rented my house for R2000 a day during the Easter weekend and holidays. Lost income. If this continues I will no longer pay Ugu Municipality”.

* “I am a pensioner. Moved here to retire in November 2020. Utterly disgusted by the fact that I have to plan my day around water availability and for that matter Eskom as well. Law states that water is not allowed to be taken away from citizens as it is a 24/7 necessity, yet it seems that Ugu does not understand that. Why do I have to purchase water and not be reimbursed by Ugu?”

* We run a business and we have had huge expenses over the years to pay for water to be delivered to our Jojos, otherwise we cannot operate our business without water. We have lost business due to the fact that there is no water. This has been more than an inconvenience. It has cost us so much money.”

Mr O’Dwyer also indicated that some people have been without water for 90 days and more and that the 2021/2022 draft budget which is before Council currently needs to be assessed carefully as to how the budget is prioritised and spent.

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