Residents want the water project to be finished as soon as possible

The residents of Ward 54 in CoJ have, for some time now, raised concerns over the incomplete water infrastructure and dangerous open trenches that scar the Mondeor area.

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and its partners, ALSA and PSAM, through their Action-For-Accountability (A4A) project, have been engaging all stakeholders in an attempt to address the problem.

A meeting convened by ward councillor Stuart Marais with Rand Water and Joburg Water noted that project RW01349/17 was due to be completed by November 2022.

The project remains incomplete to date, and more worryingly, the lack of transparency on the part of Rand Water when A4A requested relevant information to evaluate the contractual obligations related to the project.

The local A4A Civic Action Team undertook a site visit to the affected areas on February 2 to assess the progress made to address the problem. Mahlatse Tjale, a Civic Action member and a resident of Mondeor, said, “To our surprise, it was such a shame to see that there is still a significantly large amount of incomplete pipelines still dangerously exposed and big maintenance holes left bare right next to Randeor School which poses a danger to learners.”

The A4A team has been communicating with Bathande Nvombolo, a senior project manager at Rand Water, to obtain the relevant documentation on the cost and contractual details of the project. Instead of displaying transparency and accountability, the A4A team was told to make a PAIA application to obtain the information.

A written appeal was made to the CEO of Rand Water to avail the necessary documentation. No response has been received. The correspondence was not even acknowledged as a common courtesy to residents.

The lack of accountability by Joburg Water extends to the neighbouring Ward 55, where residents were left without water for up to 17 days. The water crisis in Ward 55 exposed the lack of responsiveness on the part of Joburg Water and more so on the part of Rand Water who failed to attend meetings to address residents.

A Ward 55 resident, Jameel Bulbulia, said, “We were frustrated by the back and forth we were getting from Rand Water and Joburg Water. We still need assurances that the crises will not reoccur. Some higher-lying areas are still experiencing low pressure. Is the incomplete water infrastructure in Mondeor a contributory factor to the water crisis in Ward 55? Many questions remain unanswered.”

The A4A Civic Action Team demands accountability from Rand Water on the incomplete water infrastructure and will escalate its concerns despite the lack of a response from the Rand Water CEO.

Dawood Raphalalane, the community facilitator in Mondeor, indicated that a PAIA application is being prepared and that mobilisation of the community will be stepped up to exert pressure to address the problem.

Drone footage of the open trenches shows the devastation to the environment and the risks posed by the incomplete project. Mondeor residents who wish to join the Civic Action Team should contact Raphalalane on 067 626 9520.

Nolwazi Dhlamini from JW responded:

“Johannesburg Water (JW) is aware of the water crisis that affected some parts of Ward 55, particularly Robertsham, during March. Even before the community marched to the Southdale Depot on 22 March, JW had met with affected community members from Robertsham on March 16 this year, along with the ward councillor, at the same depot.

“The reason for the meeting was to try and understand what the water supply issue was as the water crisis was not affecting the whole of Ward 55. As an interim measure, Johannesburg Water supplied one stationary water tanker as well as roaming water tankers to affected areas.

“When there are water supply challenges, high-lying areas are the first to be affected by low water pressure to no water because of the geographical location and the fact that water works with gravity.

“Johannesburg Water consistently monitors the water systems to ensure a steady supply of water, which has also been stable from Rand Water since March so far. Whenever there is a water crisis and residents are left with no water supply, the entity provides alternative water supply to affected residents.”

• The Southern Courier is still waiting for a response from Rand Water.

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