Durban - Without a water tanker since Sunday and repairs to the South Coast Augmentation pipeline under way, KwaMakhutha residents opened manholes to access “clean water” by use of a makeshift well.
The act came to light when Mbuyiselo Masuku went live on Facebook while in KwaMakhutha.
On Wednesday night, the eThekwini Municipality, on its Facebook page, said: “Repairs to the South Coast Augmentation pipeline are at an advanced stage. Once completed water supply will be restored to Durban South areas such as Isipingo, Prospecton, KwaMakhutha, Adams, iLovu and parts of eManzimtoti.”
Masuku documented the incident on Tuesday afternoon while two women were at the makeshift well to collect water from storm-water drains.
In the two-minute and 11-second video, one can see two buckets, one inside the well with a rope leading to it from above ground and the other bucket appearing to have already been filled.
One of the women in the video said residents with manholes nearby collected water in that manner as she referred to a similar case nearby.
The other woman questioned what they would drink and eat. She said the water needed to be boiled, add alum and then leave it.
The women said a water tanker had last been in the area on Sunday afternoon and a lot of people did not get the water.
Ending off the video, Masuku said this was the situation for the people of KwaMakhutha. He said that was where people were collecting their water.
Reacting to the video, people were shocked and concerned about the residents' well-being.
Mjey Shozi said the council needed to try other means to provide people with water because the manner in which the people of KwaMakhutha were getting water was not right.
Sharon Dee said a person now baths once a week.
Celiwe Shangase said people will die.
The incident was in ward 94 under the leadership of councillor Nomvula Hlomuka.
Speaking to the Daily News on Thursday, Hlomuka said during the floods, the main pipeline in Mega City, uMlazi, that fed neighbouring areas, including KwaMakhutha, was damaged and the city fixed it.
However, despite this, Hlomuka said: “Our ward doesn’t have water because of the pressure the municipality is under.”
Hlomuka added that KwaMakhutha was big and just four water tankers were sent out to cover the community.
Daily News