Dry taps frustrate Sunwich Port residents
Businesses have to bring water from home to wash dishes and flush toilets
Business owners and residents of Sunwich Port, along the R102 have been without water for over two weeks, after a burst pipe on the main road was reported to Ugu District Municipality on July 31.
According to the councillor, John Williams and a business owner, Arthur Mathee, a team was sent out on Monday, August 1 to repair the pipe, however, when they started digging, they could not locate the leak.
They returned and found the leak, however, did not reconnect the water, leaving the residents and businesses with dry taps.
“A video of the leak was sent to me on Sunday, July 31 and unfortunately at the time, I was in church. I only saw it after leaving church that morning. I immediately notified Ugu and received a reply that a team was being sent out to the site.
“They kept me updated as to the whereabouts of the repair team which arrived around 17:00 that day. It was necessary for a TLB to be brought in as the break was about two metres below the surface and they had to complete the work the next day.”
Williams said since then he had notified Ugu regularly that the residents and particularly the shopping centre, have been without water since the repairs were done, however, the municipality insists that water has been restored.
Mathee said: It has been two weeks now and in the shopping centre we have a takeaway. The owner and staff have to bring in water to wash dishes. All the other shops have to bring water for their toilets and it is really frustrating. We are about eight shops in the area without water,” Mathee added.
He said water was not the only issue as the trench dug on the road resulted in a fatal accident. “Even though I did not witness the accident, a business owner living opposite the shopping centre had heard the accident when it happened.
Four adults and a child were left in critical condition, while another occupant from one vehicle succumbed to their injuries before emergency services arrived on the scene on Tuesday, August 2.
“We have also seen some close calls as the entrance is so narrow, blocking traffic on the R102 as a result of the trench,” Mathee added.
He said the road should be fixed before another accident happens.
Ugu District Municipality was contracted for comment, however, none was received at the time of going to press.
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