DA Calls on MMC for Water, Sanitation and Energy to provide concrete Solutions to ongoing Water Outages in Tsakane, Geluksdal, Etwatwa, Kwa Thema, and Daveyton
Joint Statement by Cllr. Patricia Mathebula, Cllr. Precious Jacobs, Cllr. Strike Mhlaba, Cllr. Victor Lukhele — DA PR Councillors in Ekurhuleni
Date: 20 September 2023
Release: Immediate
Type: Press Statement
The residents of Tsakane and Geluksdal have been struggling for months on end with low water pressure and water outages. On the 18th of September 2023, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) released statement around the ongoing water supply challenges affecting, the Tsakane/ Geluksdal and Etwatwa/ Daveyton areas. The statement cited low water pressure and low storage levels as the main reasons for water supply issues in the area. The city has since decided to keep water pumps offline until water levels stabilise.
Although the City has promised to make efforts to ensure that alternative water sources are available to affected areas, the DA calls on the EFF MMC for Water, Sanitation and Energy, Cllr. Leshaka Manamela to come up with permanent solutions to the ongoing water outages in the area. Residents may recall earlier in the year, how the DA relentlessly fought for backup power generators to be installed at pump stations in Benoni when loadshedding left pump stations offline for weeks on end and reservoirs dry with no water to supply the residents of Rynfield, Northmead, Farramere, and Brentwood Park. After almost three years of pressure, the long-awaited generator was finally installed, bringing residents’ water woes to an end.
The Kwa-Thema reservoir in particular is currently empty, and its outlets have been closed to replenish water storage levels. The residents of Kwa Thema are worst affected by these outages as they have been without water for over a week due to the RW Mapleton system being out of commission. The situation in the area is already volatile as the residents of Kwa Thema experienced darkness for a couple of weeks before power was restored in the area and now have to face the struggle of water outages.
The Community of Duduza has also been subjected to low water pressure in some areas, particularly, Masechaba View where residents experience water shedding between 4:00 am and 8:00 pm and low to no water pressure during the day. This is extremely disheartening as these residents reside very close to a reservoir but have no water in sight in their homes.
As a fundamental basic human right contained in our Constitution, the DA believes that the residents of Tsakane, Geluksdal, Kwa Thema and surrounding areas, should not be left without access to clean running water. With loadshedding becoming a permanent feature in our country, it is unacceptable that the City has not invested in backup generators at all water pump stations. Residents are already suffering the consequences of loadshedding and ongoing power outages. It is therefore unacceptable for residents to be burdened with water outages as well.
With the City owing Rand Water an amount of R174,081,284.86, it should come as no surprise that the state-owned entity is unable to keep up with the maintenance of critical water infrastructure. MMC Manamela must meet with residents and provide concrete solutions to the ongoing water outages facing these communities. The City should invest in backup power solutions to ensure that water reservoirs and pump stations remain unaffected by the impact of loadshedding.
Cllr. Patricia Mathebula
DA PR Councillor in Duduza
081 521 9164
Cllr. Precious Jacobs
DA PR Councillor in Kwa Thema
0767125405
Cllr. Strike Mhlaba
DA PR Councillor in Tsakane
0760689577
Cllr. Victor Lukhele
DA PR Councillor in Geluksdal
0735579374
