Marikana residents (from left) Bonginkosi Mahlaba and her nieces Mpilonhle Zita and Ntoyenhle Mahlaba carry a wheelbarrow in the Matshotshonbeni area of the township, 1 km from the Marikana area where they live. Push to draw water. (Photo: Bongane Motaung)
Untreated sewage is flowing through the streets of the Sisembile area of Glencoe, KwaZulu-Natal, leaving residents without water for six months.
Water service has been cut off in most areas of the town since May 2024. Only parts of Red Location, Thembalile and Emadosini West receive intermittent water supply.
When the water returns after a cut, it can overflow the backed-up sewer or storm drain, sending raw sewage toward homes and nearby streams.
“Children wear dirty uniforms every day because we have to conserve water for drinking and cooking. Without water, they sometimes go to bed hungry,” she said. said Bonginkosi Mahlaba, who was spotted pushing a wheelbarrow with her two nieces to fetch water.
Mahlaba lives in Marikana district and gets her water from Mushotshonbeni, where some houses still have running water. By early afternoon, the community water tank in his area was already empty.
At the edge of Sitombile is a village of 14 families with small farmlands.
“Our village depends on rainwater. When it's not raining, we walk one kilometer to fetch water from Mushoshonbeni,” said Tandajile Muntambo, a resident of the area.
Ward 3 councilor Mbulelo Phakati used the ward's funds to install water tanks to be supplied by water tankers.
Pakati said Mjinyati District Municipality officials, who are responsible for water supply, told residents at a public meeting in May that only four of the eight filters at the Biggersberg water treatment plant, run by Uthukela Water, were operational. It is said that he spoke.
“We found that there was no maintenance plan for this area,” Pakati said. “Their communication is also poor. Councilors are not receiving the latest information about water shortages.”
The KZN 2023 Blue Drop report by the central government states: “Mzinyati DM’s performance has deviated since Blue Drop 2014, resulting in the municipality’s Blue Drop score significantly increasing from 78% in 2014 to 32% in 2023. ' has decreased.
Councilor Andile Nsibande, chairperson of Endumeni Municipality, said contractors started work on the water treatment facility two months ago. “But we don't know how long it will take for the project to be completed,” he said.
Comments from uThukela Water and Mzinyathi District municipalities will be added as they are received.
This article was first published by GroundUp.
