BOOYSEN – Johannesburg water and the ISD (Integrated Service Delivery) provided drums that could hold just more than 600 litres of fresh water on the morning of Wednesday 26.
The community is located near the Booysen Train station, on a piece of land owned by Transnet. The community is small but continues to grow and it has small shops and residents who treat everyone like family.
A lot of the community members recycle waste to earn money so paying for water was not an option. Hence, community members were very grateful of the Johannesburg water and ISD’s efforts to assist them when they were needy.
Statement Nkosi (57) was the first resident to stay in this growing community in 1974. Today he is one of the very few who live in a brick-build house in the community. He said he allowed other people to come and stay and never wanted anyone to pay a cent.
“I am very happy and grateful to receive this water, because the water we used to drink I did not trust much,” said Nkosi, who was very glad to see government officials.
The water they previously received was from a tap connected with a bust water pipeline belonging to the Crown mine. Nkosi said an engineer cut the pipe for them because he wanted them to be able to bath, cook, and wash clothes like all people.
“We identified the suffering of this community a while ago and felt that something had to be done. The land belongs to Transnet, but that did not stop us from providing the service for these people to survive.
“Water is just the start, we plan to bring toilets later on, but water is first.” said Edward Mohale, the Deputy Director of ISD.
“This is not an electioneering process, we put people first. We care about the many people who have to live in these situations,” ANC, Ward 124 Clr Sydney Radebe added.
There is a nearby drain on the edge of the community which looks dangerous for children, and it is where residents used to get their water at a nearby tap. Mohale said a drain will be investigated there and fencing will be provided to protect children in the area.
