Water crisis: Call to sign petition
The petition is to get the Minister of Water and Sanitation to intervene and resolve the prolonged water crisis in the Umtamvuna region.
Port Edward residents have been experiencing prolonged water shortages for several years, with some residents forced to rely on private water tankers, which has become costly.
The crisis is concentrated from Southbroom to Port Edward and surrounding villages. More so, the problem has had a negative impact on the tourism industry.
Piet Breedt, the DA Ugu District councillor, addressed residents at a public meeting at the Port Edward Methodist Church last Saturday. He urgently called on the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, to intervene in the ongoing power supply crisis that denies water to over 190 000 residents in the Umtamvuna region.
Residents also signed a petition calling for urgent intervention.
Ugu’s water treatment plant was set to be upgraded to supply 30 million litres per day to meet the growing needs of the region. However, insufficient electricity supply from Eskom has stymied the process.
The problem is supply in areas fed by the Umtamvuna plant. To be able to pump a larger volume of water, the plant needs more electricity. However, the plant is located on the border of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
“In February 2019, Ugu paid R14m to Eskom for the construction of a 17km powerline from the Eastern Cape to supply the plant. Construction was delayed by negotiations with a local community in the Eastern Cape, only reaching agreement in December 2023, after compensation was paid. Although 7km of the line was completed in 2024, work was halted again by further community demands. These delays fall under the jurisdiction of Alfred Nzo Municipality. Now this is the worry, Eskom has warned that if these delays are not resolved by December, the entire project will be cancelled,” said Breedt.
Ugu spokesperson, France Zama said the municipality’s immediate plan involves securing additional electrical power supply from the Eastern Cape, facilitating increased abstraction pumping and subsequent water purification.
“This initiative is currently in the final Eskom procurement stage. Plans also include upgrading the existing raw water pump station and constructing an off-channel dam for future water security, with the project nearing final business planning approval.”
Meanwhile, Breedt urged Majodina to take urgent inter-ministerial action to resolve the prolonged crisis to ensure the powerline is completed to guarantee a sufficient water supply to the Umtamvuna region.
More meetings will be held at: High Rock in Palm Beach this Saturday (14th) at 10:00. Rock Haven in Trafalgar on Tuesday, June 17 at 17:00 and at Southbroom Golf Club on Thursday, June 19 at 17:00.
The DA calls on residents, business owners to attend and sign the petition. For further information on the meetings, contact Stephanie Breedt on 083 3029382.
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