24-05-2025
Water issues continue to anger communities of Bronkhorstspruit and Ekangala
Although the City of Tshwane (CoT) has started repairs on the raw water plant and the water treatment plant in Bronkhorstspruit, frustration over ongoing water outages is increasing.
Things reached a boiling point in Ekangala this week. Concerned residents from wards 103 and 104 informed their councillors of their intent to protest on May 21 until their issues about the poor water supply are heard.
A letter sent to the two ward councillors notified them that the wards' communities had had enough of the ongoing water shortages and that residents were left with no alternative but to protest.
The residents indicated that an organised protest would begin early on Wednesday and continue daily until the city's mayoral committee gave the community a 'clear and actionable plan for its immediate and long-term resolution'.
In their letter, the residents said public transport and local businesses might be affected by protest activities.
'We reiterate that this protest will be peaceful, but firm in its objective to draw attention to our desperate situation. The well-being of wards 103 and 104 hinges on a swift and effective resolution to this water crisis.'
A local bedridden individual on life support, Nomvuyo Mashele, also expressed frustration and concern about the prolonged water supply issues.
'We had intermittent water supply for two weeks, and the recent outage left us without running water for days.'
As a bedridden person on life support, struggling with multiple chronic illnesses, this situation is not just inconvenient; it is a serious health risk.
'The lack of water makes it impossible for me to maintain basic hygiene, which is crucial for my well-being. I urge you to take immediate action to restore a consistent water supply to our area. This isn't just a matter of comfort; it is a matter of urgent necessity,' said Mashele.
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Things would worsen very soon, is the consensus among residents.
'We are being deprived of a basic right to access to water,' declared an angry resident from Rethabiseng.
Two faulty pumps at the water treatment plant are said to have caused the latest water outage.
A delegation from the CoT, including the MMC for Region 7, the regional head and the ward councillors, visited the plant on Tuesday and offered an explanation and apology via video to the wards 103 and 104 residents.
Jabu Mabona, the regional head, asked the residents to use the supplied water tankers until the water was restored. The delegation believed this would happen before Friday.
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