In Kwasimba's eThekwini, taps are dry, with some areas without water for seven years.
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu addressed local residents last week and promised to provide them with tap water by April.
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“I want to believe that water will be restored in this area in April,” Mchunu, who arrived two hours late, told the Kwasimba community.
Residents of Kwasimba have staged several protests over water shortages.
“I would like to invite everyone in the community to come and witness this on the day,” Mchunu told people gathered at the Inkosi Masinga Sports Center (eThekwini) last week.
project is behind schedule
However, according to a media statement issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation the following day, none of the projects to alleviate Kwasimba's water crisis are on track to be completed in April.
An emergency wastewater treatment plant in Mbini district is expected to be operational by mid-May.
The long-term solution is the construction of the Upper Muhomazi project, which will add 400 megalitres of water per day to the Western Water Supply, but this is not expected to be completed until 2030.
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When asked whether the water supply would be restored in April as promised by the minister, the minister's spokesperson, Kamogelo Mokgotsi, said: As a department, we help them move projects forward quickly. ” The city referred our inquiry to the state department.
According to a media statement, the Midmar Dam power outage affected areas served by the Western Aqueduct, including Hammersdale, Georgedale, Kloof, Gillitz, Tselimyama, Dassenhoek, Inanda and Umzinyati. Water from the west side water supply was restored to him on February 19th, but the supply continues to be in short supply.
City hall staff are useless
The meeting with the minister, hosted by Inkosi Mlaba of Kwasimba, was also attended by Thekwini city officials.
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However, resident Hlengiwe Mkhize said city officials usually only come to address local residents after protests. You may then get water for about a week before the faucet empties again.
Inkosi provincial secretary Nkobisizwe Ngubane said he called the Inkosi provincial minister after not getting any solution from eThekwini municipality.
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Mkhize said the last time there was running water where she lives was seven years ago. Water trucks do not reach her area, and people have to fetch water from nearby areas.
Mlungisi Ngcobo, who has lived in Ward 1 for more than 20 years, said water tanker deliveries were rare and she relied on fetching water from the “very dirty” river.
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© 2024 GroundUp. This article was originally published here.
