Parts of Vukani, Fingo Village, Joza and New Town are still without water despite the municipality assuring them that it will be turned on this week.
Parts of Vukani, Fingo Village, Joza and New Town are still without water despite the municipality assuring them that it will be turned on this week.
“I wish that they can fix this problem of water,” says Zwelinzima Singaphi, a New Town resident, complaining about sporadic water supply over the last few months.
“They do not tell us when it happens,” says Mongezi Kondile, a Fingo resident. Thirst, dirty clothes and unwashed children are regular complaints made by the residents.
Sigidla Ndumo from Fingo Village points to his three year old granddaughter who hasn’t been washed in a while. “We take life as it is,” he says.
But hygiene is a major concern as there is no water to flush toilets. “We are saving water from these gutters from the rain,” explains Singaphi, pointing to his roof.
“People are angry,” says Kondile adding that “there is nothing right that they [the municipality]are doing for us.” While water is being trucked in by the municipality on a regular basis, it is still not enough.
Some residents are forced to walk kilometres to the nearest source; public taps, rivers and water tanks. “They are f***ing us around,” says Edwin Ngangca, (63) a resident from New Town.
Ndumo is also vocal on the issue. “We are used to oppression… we are suffering a lot. If the wind blows from this side, we lean with it. If it blows from that side, we lean again.”
Residents are frustrated at the lack of communication from their ward councillors on the state of the water supply.
Last week a municipal vehicle roaming the streets of New Town heralded the news of available running water in their homes from a loud-hailer.
Kondile says that as the vehicle drove away he went into his house and there was still no water. A week later, this hasn’t changed.
Water tanks are available in some areas of the township. Although queues are often long and people who live away from the immediate areas do not know of its arrival.
Even for those nearby, the tanks deliver water at impractical times, Ngcangca explains. While long queues can lead to quarrelling among the residents as they vie for position, Ndumo is more concerned with municipal incompetence.
“They are useless! They must be removed and replaced with good people!” he says. As residents are becoming more agitated daily, the municipality will face increased pressure as residents refuse to back down from this situation. At the time of going to print, Grocott’s Mail was still awaiting comment from the municipality.
