Mamelodi, Gauteng -
The burst water supply pipe which led to the death of two children in Mamelodi has been repaired, the City of Tshwane said on Wednesday.
Spokeswoman Nomasonto Ndlovu said the water supply was being restored in Mamelodi and surrounding areas.
It was expected that the reservoirs could be filled by Wednesday night, she said. Residents were, however, warned that the water supply had not been fully restored to most parts of the sprawling area.
Supply in some parts of Mamelodi was expected to be delayed because the pipes had to fill up first, before the reservoirs.
Water tankers were brought in to alleviate the shortage.
Tshwane emergency services said two children died on Monday when the pipe burst in the Phomolong informal settlement. It was suspected that the children, a four-year-old and a four-month-old, had drowned.
The Tshwane metro announced it would help the families of the two children with burial arrangements and counselling.
The city said initial indications were that accelerated corrosion of the pipe, due to its proximity to a railway line, could have led to the burst.
Ndlovu said the city continued with the relocation of the affected families by anticipating moving about 50 of them to permanent stands on municipal-owned land by Wednesday.
“At least 561 of the 703 households have already been pre-approved on the beneficiary list and will within the next days also be relocated to the permanent stands,” she said. - Sapa