Parts of Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality (Estcourt), Okhahlamba Local Municipality, Ladysmith and Ezakheni have been continuously struggling to get running water into their homes.
“Do you know what it feels like to be without water for days on end? Then you don’t even find any officials with water tankers to assist,” said the residents of Ezakheni, who told The Ladysmith Herald that the community and its surrounding areas are finding it more and more difficult to get water to their homes.
It was reported that water would come on for an hour or two and then go off for days. “You can see for yourself, some of us can hardly walk to get water. Where is the water? What is happening?” asked another resident.
Following the ongoing water shortages in the area, the Al-Imdaad Foundation received a request from the community and came on board to assist with water provisions. Teams from the Al-Imdaad Foundation recently distributed 200 5L bottles of water to the elderly and residents of Ward 2 in Ezakheni.
Al-Imdaad Foundation officials said that they remain committed to assisting communities affected by water shortages in the uThukela District through water tankers and deliveries of bottled water. UThukela District Municipality later said, in a media briefing, that continuous “water disruptions” are deliberate acts incited by mischievous individuals whose intentions are to put the name of the municipalities into disrepute.
UThukela District Municipality also alleged that the aforementioned employees based in these respective areas under the Department of Water and Sanitation held meetings with the intention of disrupting the water supply to the community.
“If sabotage of this nature is proven to be truthful, concerned employees will be dealt with accordingly. UThukela District Municipality would like to encourage the community to work hand in hand to report deceitful acts that lead to such incidents. To report water shortages, burst pipes, sewer spillages and vandalism, phone our call centre on 086-010-4257,” said municipality officials.
Affected residents said that the alleged vandalism of water pipes is just another lie from the municipality while others said it was just a sad excuse for the incompetence of uThukela District Municipality.
