Sharika Regchand
WATER cuts, which have been exacerbated since municipal workers’ downed tools last week, are threatening to cripple Underberg and Himeville, two villages dependent on tourism.
In the past 21 days, the Drakensberg villages have been without water for six days. Residents and business people blamed the ongoing problem on “bad management” at the Sisonke district municipality, which supplies the water.
However, the recent escalation in water cuts was said to be a result of the nationwide municipal workers’ strike. There were allegations that aggrieved workers had sabotaged the water supply.
However, the chairman of the local ratepayers’ association, John Jackson, said the water problems had been going on for years.
“The problem has been on and off due to water pumps breaking down,” he said.
Businessman Sam Knox expressed similar views, adding that the water cuts had an “enormous” impact on tourists.
Another businessman, Dave Adam, said that the “tourist destination is being held to ransom by Sisonke”.
Sisonke’s head of water services, Ben Ngcobo, said that work had begun over eight months ago to upgrade the water treatment plant. The main pipe from the pumping station was also being upgraded.
He added that the old reservoirs had been demolished and a new one, which was triple the size, had been erected. However, it would only be commissioned in about two months.
“In essence, when there is construction taking place there has to be disturbances here and there,” he said.
“
Residents save water and exercise patience because the system is being upgraded,” he said.
Sisonke municipal manager Nhlanhla Mabaso was unaware of allegations that striking municipal workers had sabotaged the water supply, but said he would investigate the claims.