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Water Outages Leave Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Residents High and Dry
The constant water outages in Gauteng and KZN frustrate residents, who grapple with an extended water crisis that has left their taps dry for weeks and sometimes months.
MSN News reports that some of the hardest-hit areas include Tsakane, KwaThema, Brakpan, Duduza, and Palm Ridge in Ekurhuleni, where residents have endured a staggering two months without water. Other affected regions span Germiston, Kempton Park, Nigel, Bedfordview, Edenvale, Midstream, and Tembisa.
In Johannesburg, Midrand, Auckland Park, and more areas have been grappling with water shortages. Meanwhile, under the eThekwini municipality, neighbourhoods such as Durban North, Effingham, Parkhill, and uMhlanga have been without running water since last Monday, and pipeline sabotage is suspected.
Rand Water’s media statement claiming to have fully restored pumping in all its systems has led some to question the accuracy of the information. Residents already facing the dire consequences of water scarcity find it hard to believe.
Sifiso Dlamini of Palm Ridge highlighted the immense challenges this crisis has caused. He expressed how residents struggle to secure even small amounts of water, filling buckets and bottles whenever they see water flowing from their taps. The absence of water has far-reaching health implications, including non-functioning toilets, which puts the community at risk.
Schools have also been affected, with pupils sent home when water is unavailable, disrupting their education.
Also read: Johannesburg Water Expands Water Shortage Areas as Thunderstorms Persist
Elderly residents are also experiencing significant hardships due to the lack of water. An unnamed resident of Midrand shared her struggle to fetch water from a heavy tank, especially with a back problem. The water crisis has had a profound impact on her daily life.
Devasha Nair from Somerset Park in uMhlanga stressed the need for better communication from the city regarding the crisis. She pointed out that the community only received formal communication recently after days of struggling to access water. Residents had to rely on family and friends to meet basic needs like bathing.
Ednick Msweli, head of water at the eThekwini municipality, discussed the challenges in identifying the cause of the damage, highlighting that restricted network access makes it challenging to pinpoint issues.
While local authorities play the blame game, with Ekurhuleni accusing Rand Water of insufficient supply despite payments, Rand Water has called for responsible water use, particularly in the face of increased demand due to rising temperatures.
Professor Mike Muller of the Wits School of Governance stressed the importance of open communication to prevent such catastrophic water cuts. He emphasised that municipalities should provide transparent information about water availability and consumption to better address these challenges.
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Picture: Unsplash / João Paulo Carnevalli de Oliveira
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