By Claudine Senekal
Al Imdaad Foundation HoD, Abed Karrim, along with officials from the foundation, other organisations, individuals and Councillor Abbas Warasally worked late almost every night last week to ensure that water was distributed to residents in various affected areas such as Acaciavale, Rosepark and Chesty Place. These residents have been without water for almost ten days and uThukela reported that eMbizeni Water Works, the water treatment pump which supplies Ezakheni, Acaciavale, Rosepark and Chesty Place, has been badly infiltrated by silt to such an extent that its volume was above water levels.
The long weekend and Eid bore no festivities in these areas as many residents had to spend hours standing in queues for water with some areas reporting that no water tankers had been seen for days, causing them to resort to collecting water from a local “spruit”. In Ezakheni, residents had closed off all the main routes into the area due to the lack of water.
“We can’t continue living like this,” said a fed-up Ezakheni resident who told The Ladysmith Herald that they have not seen a tanker in the area since the water stopped running from their taps. Ezakheni residents have said that they will continue closing the roads until water has reached their homes. Owethu Mgaga, a Grade 12 learner at Ekukhuleni High School, has pleaded with local leaders and both municipalities – Alfred Duma and uThukela – to please provide water to the area. “It’s been tough, real tough, these last few days. No school and I can’t even have a bath,” said the matric learner.
Mgaga’s pleas for water come with thousands of others as residents within Ezakheni, Acaciavale, Rosepark and Chesty Place have now been without water for almost two weeks. “The schools are closed due to the fact that there is no water and on some days there is no electricity and it is really interfering with my school work as I need to concentrate on my points. I need good marks if I want to continue my studies, but can’t do it living like this. We need water, please do something and help us,” she pleaded. On Saturday, 30 April, communities made their way to eMbizeni Water Works, seeking answers about the lack of water and to find out what solutions are being put in place to get water to the area.
UThukela District Mayor, Councillor Inkosi NB Shabalala, said that Ezakheni, Acaciavale, Rosepark and Chesty Place use the river as their main raw water supply as opposed to other areas which are supplied by constructed dams. He continued to say that the construction company that is on site was hired to rapidly get the systems back to working order.
“After this unfortunate incident of floods, we had estimated the turnaround time will be soon. As we are constantly in contact with the contractor, a report was given to us that our expectations may not yield anticipated results. As we are gathered here on site, we can attest to the fact that there are a lot of developments since our last visit. We are hopeful that, within a reasonable time, our main goal of getting water to the people will be fulfilled,” said Mayor Shabalala.
Councillor Abbas Warasally told The Ladysmith Herald that many organisations and individuals have been working around the clock to bring water to residents. “A resident, Kerwin Mungroo, was kind enough to allow the use of a JoJo tank to supply water to residents.” Al Imdaad Foundation teams were also distributing water late into the evening hours. “There is a huge cry for water and we have been working to ensure that households can get water. I would like to thank my team for the sacrifice they made on the eve of Eid and for putting the community’s needs first,” said Abed Karrim of Al Imdaad Foundation, who added that long hours were spent to make sure that people could collect water.
Many disgruntled residents expressed their opinion about the uThukela leaders and said that their water woes are not only due to the recent floods but have been ongoing. “It is only now that the floods have placed a magnifying glass on the problems. Water delivery and pumps have been a problem, not just since the floods,” said a resident.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Councillor, Thys J van Rensburg of the uThukela Constituency, told The Ladysmith Herald that a petition has since been established due to the lack of water. “The uThukela District Municipality (uThukela) has for a very long time failed to provide a continuous and reliable supply of clean, safe, usable water to many communities in the urban, peri-urban and rural areas of uThukela,” said Cllr J v Rensburg. The petition further states that water outages are frequent and can last from hours to days, even months.
The quality of water is also of concern as high turbidity is often encountered. The memorandum will have the following:
1. UThukela has been placed under administration by the KZN Provincial Government for various periods in the last decade, yet the situation with water services and provision has not improved, and is indeed getting worse;
2. The uThukela Budget for 2022/23 reflects an unfunded excess expenditure;
3. UThukela owes Umgeni Water R279 million for Bulk Water Supply services provided;
4. UThukela owes the Dept of Water and Sanitation R44 million;
5. The uThukela IDP 2022/2023 – 2026/2027 reflects that the staff expenditure makes up 48% of total expenditure (see page 278 under “audited ratios”);
6. The uThukela IDP reflects that Water Distribution losses amount to 68% of all purified water. That more potable water is lost than is consumed;
7. UThukela has written off water consumer debts of R637 million as a result of the previous ANC administration, as well as the administrators having failed to enforce uThukela’s Debt Collection Policy;
8. The 2019/21 Auditor General report contains concerns about uThukela being an ongoing concern as its liabilities exceed its assets by R361 million; and
9. The weak financial standing of uThukela shows how ineffective the Administrative Process was/is in improving the standing and delivery of basic services to the residents of uThukela.
“Unless urgent and far-reaching action is taken to manage uThukela properly and professionally, the residents of uThukela will continue to endure many more years of this,” said Cllr J v Rensburg.
Alfred Duma Local Municipality confirms that there is a public protest in Ezakheni. “At this stage, there are road closures in Ezakheni respectively preventing all modes of transport to exit or gain entry into the area. Council can confirm that the district municipality is working around the clock to restore water provision in the affected areas,” said Siyabonga Maphalala, Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Manager.
Maphalala said that the protest has negatively affected learning and teaching in schools around Ezakheni since many were unable to resume classes and remain closed. “Many other employees remained at home since they were unable to reach their employment sectors, thus having a negative effect directed to the economy of the town.”
It should also be noted that the municipality tries to care for all sectors of society hence the mayor, Councillor Sibisi, will proceed and join uThukela District Municipality leadership to conduct consultations with all stakeholders to check on the consequences these demonstrations may have on the daily functionality of the private and public sectors.
Members of the community are encouraged to stay away from this exercise of illegal road closures since it will affect them negatively, taking into account that many daily service requirements may not reach them such as the delivery of food items in stores/tuck-shops, water tankers, access to clinics, access to schools for educators and learners, emergency response, ambulances and many other services will be unable to access the area should these road closures continue.
Ezakheni residents were supposed to meet with uThukela officials on Wednesday afternoon, 4 May. “No officials had come from uThukela and no solutions were given to us,” said a resident who had attended the meeting. It was also alleged that residents had made threats to councillors that if the water does not reach their taps, they will cut the water pipes to get their own water.
