Oshabeni water crisis falls on deaf ears

Taps running dry have become part of daily life for residents of Oshabeni, near St Faiths. Some areas have been without clean, piped water for about two years, while other areas for about eight months.

Now frustrated and at their wit’s end, residents are demanding answers. They said their pleas to Ugu District Municipality to urgently resolve the water crisis have fallen on deaf ears.

“Living without water will soon become the new normal for many residents of Oshabeni. You won’t believe that the last time we had water in our taps was more than two years ago, ” said Khezwana Lushaba.

Ronald Dlamini said the situation was dire as they had to constantly fill water containers to be able to do basic chores. “Why are they doing this to us? We are suffering, and the municipality thinks all is good with us. It is really bad, and water tankers don’t often come,” he said.

He added that Ugu has no compassion for the old. “It is time that our water is connected. How do you let so many pensioners walk for kilometres to collect water up and down steep hills?” asked Ronald.

Another resident said: “Even the water tankers are not servicing our section. We rely on rainwater, and now that it’s winter, there’s no rain, we struggle a lot. Our life is a mess, thanks to the government and municipality we voted for. “

Ugu was contacted for comment, but none was received at the time of going to press.

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