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Rand Water Expects Extended Electricity Outages in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni as Water Crisis Deepens
While Tshwane and Ekurhuleni have access to their water supply again, Rand Water states that it will take longer to restore electricity. Last week, several residents in Ekurhuleni and Tshwane had no water after thieves stole cables at Rand Water’s Mapleton pump station. According to SABC News, the affected areas include Pretoria East, Mamelodi, Eersterust, Benoni, and its surroundings.
According to spokesperson Mmakenosi Maru, “We are pleased to announce that water has been restored at Rand Water’s Mapleton’s Booster station. However, there will not be immediate relief in the power supply. The system requires time to recover.” As a result, the City of Tshwane has urged residents to use water sparingly.
Mbali Matiwane, Ekurhuleni Water and Sanitation Divisional Head says, “We are closely monitoring the situation until all water systems are fully stabilized. In the meantime, the city is providing water through mobile tankers located at different locations. Further updates will be provided in the course of the day and as the systems improve.”
In other water news, the Giyani Bulk Water Project could bring clean running water to residents in Giyani in Limpopo soon. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation and Chairperson Robert Mashego are on a three-day oversight visit to assess the project’s progress. The project to link the bulk water pipeline from Nandoni Dam to Nsami Dam began in 2014. The committee initially meant its completion in 2017. However, the contractor abandoned the site in 2019, causing delays that strained residents’ daily lives. In addition, the Department of Water and Sanitation has yet to complete several deadlines to complete the project in the past nine years.
Also read:
Mass Blackout and Water Crisis Hits Ekurhuleni and Tshwane: Residents Left in the Dark and Dry
