DURBAN - WITH some provincial municipalities embroiled in long-standing water supply challenges, the IFP has called for the Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to place uMhlathuze Local Municipality, in particular, under administration.
The Ugu District and uMhlathuze municipalities have seen some of their residents without water for more than three weeks.
Hibberdene residents have been without water for eight weeks and have spoken out about taking action against the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, which falls under the Ugu District, through the courts.
This is as fed-up Kwadlangezwa resident in Empangeni, under the uMhlathuze Municipality, embarked on protests on Tuesday and yesterday because they have been without water since February.
“With each passing day, uMhlathuze was nearing total collapse,” said Xolani Ngwezi, the IFP spokesperson in the National Council of Provinces.
“Residents in Esikhaleni and KwaDlangezwa have been without water since February this year, and other areas within the municipality have been without water since December 2020. Cogta MEC Sipho Hlomuka, together with the KZN provincial executive, must urgently place uMhlathuze Local Municipality in the King Cetshwayo District under administration,” said Ngwezi.
He said last month they had requested an urgent investigation into alleged corruption and the bungling of tenders intended to supply water tankers in the municipality.
uMhlathuze spokesperson Mdu Ncalane said water had been a problem since the beginning of the year, after they had one of their major sources of water contaminated with diesel in December which forced them to empty and clean the 60 million litre reservoir.
He said the reservoir supplied 15 wards including Kwadlangezwa and it took two weeks to empty it.
Ncalane explained that while filling the reservoir, there were water restrictions and water tankers were supplied to mitigate the restriction.
He said due to gravity, areas in high-lying areas did not have water at times when it should which frustrated residents who also missed the tankers when they came.
“Water has been restored. A short-term emergency for the municipality’s intermittent water supply from funds made for projects that were delayed by Covid-19 was yesterday tabled and approved by council and this included the supply of package plants which are like portable reservoirs.”
In the South Coast, Hibberdene residents in January and February did not have water for seven days.
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality spokesperson Simon April said while water was supplied by Ugu District Municipality, leadership was concerned about the communities that had water challenges.
“As we are aware that water is life and also that we are in the time of the pandemic, the leadership of the municipality will interact with the Ugu District Municipality to have the matter resolved,” said April.
Ugu spokesperson France Zama said the municipality met community representatives yesterday in an effort to outline plans and interventions in place to resolve the water supply disruptions in the area.
“The municipality has indeed noted with concern the frustrations being expressed by Hibberdene residents in this regard.”
Daily News