Makana's director of infrastructure Thembinkosi Myalato says the city is doing everything possible to offer Festival visitors and residents a high standard of service.
Makana's director of infrastructure Thembinkosi Myalato says the city is doing everything possible to offer Festival visitors and residents a high standard of service.
Technicians have worked around the clock to restore water to areas of the city amid rumours that outages were linked to the current municipal workers' strike.
Makana Municipality said they would take action against anyone sabotaging water supplies to Grahamstown after as rumours circulated on social media that striking municipal workers were shutting off water valves.
Reports of interrupted, poor quality, unreliable and very low water pressure in certain parts of the city surfaced amid the brewing strike by South African Municipal Workers Union members on the Makana staff.
Earlier today a post on Mobisam facebook page read: "Update from Amatola: A valve was found closed so Hillsview in Sunnyside should be okay in a few minutes. We are not sure who has been interfering with the valves around the city so please report water interruptions immediately when they happen."
Municipal spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo said the municipality would investigate and take legal action if anyone was found guilty.
Speaking to Grocott's Mail yesterday, Ramokolo said, "It is a criminal offence and against the law to cut a water supply to the people. If anyone is caught doing the deed, they will be held accountable."
Sunnyside residents reported being without water for two days. Other areas that were earlier reported to be without water were Selworthy Road, Constitution Street and Ayliff Street, Oatlands North and MacGowan Street.
Ramokolo confirmed yesterday that water had since been restored to all these areas.
Last night Myalato said water levels at the three Waainek reservoirs were adequate.
He said plumbers had attended to a burst pipe in Sunnyside.
"James Kleynhans dam's levels have dropped due to demand and a minor fault to the system. This has resulted in a dropping of water pressure to high-lying areas, including Joza," he told Grocott's Mail last night.
"Plumbers have attended to different water leaks."
He said there had been a number of sewage spills.
"But our teams have been unblocking the system."
No electricity outages had been reported.
Of potholes in the roads, he said, "We are patching as we go."
He said Makana Municipality was giving its full support to the National Arts Festival and that representatives were attending joint-operations planning meetings daily.
"For the final concert at JD Dlepu stadium, Makana Municipality is in support and 100% part of organising it."
