The water crisis in Matjhabeng, specifically Riebeeckstad, has reached critical levels, with taps in this suburb being dry for five weeks now.
Furthermore, Bloem Water, Matjhabeng’s official water supplier, has issued a notice warning Matjhabeng residents of an imminent water cut-off from 06:00 on Saturday (11/02) to 12:00 on Sunday. This is to effect urgent maintenance on the broken equipment at the De Erf pump station supplying potable water to the reservoir in Riebeeckstad.
This cut-off will affect Riebeeckstad, Bronville, Odendaalsrus, Kutlwanong, Welkom, Thabong, Hennenman, Phomolong, Ventersburg and Mmamahabane.
To add insult to injury, residents have been advised to ensure that they have an adequate water supply for the “dry spell”. Residents retorted to this by saying, “How can you ensure adequate supply when you have no water to store up in the first place?”
At best, the reservoir levels only reach a maximum of 23% capacity, often dropping to between 0% and 3%. These reservoirs feed the entire Matjhabeng region.
On Wednesday afternoon, irate residents in Riebeeckstad gathered in McLean Street to take part in a silent protest.
“Let us all stand together about the water issue, it will be peaceful, but we will make our voices heard. This is about one thing only. We permanently want water in our taps,” read the posts on Facebook and on WhatsApp groups.
The neighbourhood, with its more than 1 000 households, has a payment rate of 83% which is one of the highest in Matjhabeng.
In notice, Bloem Water says they are experiencing serious challenges with broken equipment at De Erf, which supplies the Riebeeckstad reservoir. This reservoir in turn supplies water to most areas in Matjhabeng as well as Wesselsbron and Monyakeng in the Nala Municipality.
Breakdowns make it very difficult to maintain continuous water supply to customers. The pipeline feeding Riebeeckstad will have to be taken out of operation for repairs. The effect of isolating and emptying the pipelines will cause the Riebeeckstad reservoir to run empty and consumers will be without water.
Matjhabeng has assured residents that they will do all in their power to make the 36 hours of no water as “painless” as possible.
The municipal manager, Adv. Lonwabo Ngoqo, apologises for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciates the cooperation of the residents in this matter.
- To date, the Matjhabeng Municipality has not once supplied even one water truck to the beleaguered area, nor has Thanduxolo Khalipha, executive mayor, addressed the residents – even though he himself lives in this suburb.
