THOUSANDS of residents in Zululand have been denied their basic right to water for a second consecutive week.
This comes amid an ongoing strike by employees of WSSA (Water Services South Africa), who are contracted to operate the uThungulu District’s water schemes in five municipalities.
The situation reached catastrophic proportion this week as water services in four municipalities – Nkandla, Mthonjaneni, uMlalazi and Ntambanana – were severely hampered.
After a week of negotiations which saw staff union SAMWU (South African Municipal Workers Union) rejecting a wage offer by the employer, the strike has intensified and many water schemes have been shut down.
However, on the ground the situation is far worse as water tankers stand empty in rural reserves and children are forced to endure scorching temperatures at school without water and functional toilets.
Just six kilometres outside Empangeni in Macekane Reserve in Ntambanana, residents said they cannot continue to live under these conditions.
‘A water tanker came yesterday but this is not enough for the community,’ said a resident.
‘We are trying everything to get water including going to the river. Sometimes tankers don’t even come for a week. We are suffering.’
Regardless of the strike, residents told the Zululand Observer they had not received water through their taps since November.
Tourists
International tourists in nearby exclusive lodges have also been left without water as establishments are forced to order water tankers to cater for the full camp of guests.
Owner of the private five-star game lodge, Thula Thula, Françoise Malby-Anthony said they had not received water for more than a month.
‘This is terrible. We are buying water costing R2 500 per tanker. We need two tankers every two days,’ said Malby-Anthony.
‘On Tuesday, the driver of the water tanker was held at gunpoint en route to Thula Thula. The community wanted the water delivered to them. People can survive without electricity but not without water. To deprive people of water is inhumane and criminal.’
She said the water cuts did not bode well for tourism in the region.
‘I have a full camp of international tourists and this creates a very bad impression to attract more tourists,’ said Malby-Anthony.
Threatened
uThungulu Municipal Manager Mandla Nkosi said they had attempted to operate the schemes with their own staff, however striking workers had threatened violence against employees.
‘We have increased the number of water tankers to cover the affected areas, despite water tanker drivers also being threatened. WSSA has now enlisted the services of a security company to escort water tankers into unsafe areas. We have thus been able to supply water as scheduled. uThungulu is working with both parties to bring a resolution to the strike,’ said Nkosi.
On Wednesday, water was restored to certain areas in Nkandla including the local hospital. The uThungulu District Education Department was unable to respond on their strategy to assist affected schools at the time of going to print.
