DEAR Editor,-
On May 5th, I noticed a water leak between the roots of one of the two large wild Natal fig trees outside our property. I reported the leak to Ugu and received a reference. Within a couple of hours, a team from Ugu arrived and started digging and cutting roots away for about an hour. Unfortunately they were then called away to attend to an urgent leak. After about a week, I phoned Ugu, quoted my reference and was told they would send out a plumber. They arrived the same day and dug further. Again the team left and did not return until I phoned. Each time there was cutting of more roots and another hole.
On May 28, the Ugu team arrived and dug a further hole to the left of the trees to locate the main pipe. On June 11, Ugu could not find my reference number and I had to go through the entire story again and receive a new reference. On June 15, Ugu promised to send plumbers on the same day, but they never arrived.
June 23, Ugu again said they would send plumbers, but a team of meter repairers arrived instead. I apologised to them and told them I had never reported a meter problem to Ugu. They inspected the holes and were very helpful, but informed me that the reticulation team should have arrived and that they must cut the main pipe on either side of the trees to get around the roots. On June 24, I once again phoned Ugu, who promised they would report the fault. I am still waiting.
All we have to show for reporting this leak are three large, deep holes, surrounded by red warning tape. Water has now been running for almost eight weeks! I realise that the repair might be difficult because of the trees, but I just need to find out if there is a plan to repair it.
In a letter to the editor in the June 19 edition of the South Coast Herald, Robin Foulis mentioned that DD Naidoo had responded to his email so I am assuming that DD Naidoo is in charge of water leaks at Ugu? Please can someone let me know if this is in fact true and how I could obtain his email address.
JUDY POWELL
Trafalgar
