Tempers flared and tensions were at the breaking point during an IDP (Integrated Development Plan) meeting last week on Tuesday, 8 October. The problem was WATER. or better still, the LACK of WATER.
No MMC attended the meeting. MMC Zwane was scheduled to present the IDP at the meeting at Lilian Ngoyi but no one could be reached. Other venues faced similar problems.
It was then decided that the meeting should be about the ongoing water crises.
While everybody was asking about the disappearance of the water no answers were given. Everyone echoed residents’ accusations that the water shortages were a result of non-payment. Two halls at Lilian Ngoyi were full of residents.
What became very clear is that residents are not only fed up with the lack of water but also the poor management thereof.
Rand Water is trying to manage the situation but is struggling at best.
Water leaks are not always responded to quickly and GMM’s water losses are over 40%.
The issue of GMM’s unpreparedness to deal with the current water crisis is a huge issue. While trucks were dispatched to take water to residents it did not reach all areas timeously.
The state of the water reservoirs is a huge concern. Not all reservoirs are functional. To name a few, the Ext 22 reservoirs, The Ext 17 reservoir in eMbalenhle and the Reservoir at Afghanistan in Kinross.
Residents are of the opinion that the reservoirs could have been kept functional with proper maintenance, but they have fallen into misuse. The Kinross Reservoir is fairly newly built and the Ext17 reservoir was renovated as part of the Social Labour Plan (SLP). Both these reservoirs are not being used at all.
Reservoirs would not have eliminated the current problem but could have gone a long way to supply people with water well into the current crisis.
On 9 October 2018, The Bulletin visited the Ext 22 reservoir in Secunda. It was scandalous! The floating roof was host to several bird species as well as a few reeds that were growing on top of it.
This was written then:
Extension 22 Reservoir in a poor state.
The Bulletin visited the Extention 22 reservoirs in Secunda.
What we found was an absolute mess and disgrace.
Thieves have stolen everything that they could carry. This was reported to the portfolio committees a while ago, but no repairs have been made. See for yourself the state of the Ext 22 reservoirs!
When the Bulletin visited the reservoirs over the past week it was in no better shape. Poor planning by GMM officials as well as prioritising other projects over water security may have helped to exacerbate the problem. In 6 years, no effort was made to correct that problem.
However, a simple Google Earth search shows that the reservoir has been in its current condition since 2003. Not once did it show a working reservoir. (the reservoir with the floating roof)
When The Bulletin visited the reservoir in 2018 we found the pump house full of water and everything was stolen that could be stolen. It appears the same now as well.
The reservoir in Afghanistan doesn’t even have proper piping installed and is not receiving any water.
The reservoir at Ext 17 in eMbalenhle, which was refurbished as part of the SLP, is in a terrible state. There are absolutely no pumps in the pump house. The floating roof of the reservoir is deteriorating and will have to be replaced (in our opinion).
GMM sends out updates regarding the state of reservoirs.
Here is the latest update on reservoir levels:
14/10/2024 GMM water supply updates.
Please be informed that Rand Water is pumping water to GMM at half capacity due to high water demand within their system.
Wildebeest reservoirs’ water levels are below 5%
Region 1 water supply status
The pumping of water to Region 1(Bethal/ eMzinoni) from the Trichardt booster pump is affected due to low water levels at Wildebeest.
Water reservoirs within Region 1.
– Bethal Rand reservoirs at 0%
– Bethal ext 5 reservoir at 25%
– Vanheerden Reservoir at 0%
– Emzinoni Ext 4 reservoir at 0%
Water truck is currently supplying water to schools and Emzinoni Ext 5, 6, aZapo and Kannan
Region 2 Reservoirs Water levels
– Eendracht at 100%
– Leandra town at 40%
– Lebogang RDP at 100%
– Kinross town at 5%
– Thistle groove at 10%
– Trichardt at 40%
– Evander at 100%
Water truck will be supplying water to schools and health facilities
Region 3 reservoir levels
– Adullum reservoir at 60%
– Emba. Ext. 15 reservoirs at 20%
– Charl Cilliers tower at 0%
The water truck will be supplying water to Emba ext 15 and Charl Cilliers
Affected areas will receive water as soon as the water supply improves.
We encourage the community to conserve water and report water leakage
The following questions should be asked here.
- Why does Bethal only have one reservoir at 25% and three others at 0%? Bethal residents must always bear the brunt of poor water supply.
- Why are Lebogang RDP at 100% as well as Evander reservoirs (100%) while Kinross town is at 5%, Thistle Grove at 10% and Trichardt at 40%.
In the ultimate form of deceit, GMM kept on watering the Lilian Ngoyi Stadium grass. The Bulletin learned that there will be a soccer match played there over the weekend.
Why are the mines receiving water at (mostly) full capacity, but the residents are without water? It could be said that they are paying Rand Water (RW) directly, but the issue is that if they are receiving water at acceptable pressure and volumes then there should be more for the residents.
The water crisis that we are all facing is huge and it will take excellent management to be able to get water to everyone.
Is it not time that GMM, maybe through the SLP partners, start building dams?
Is it not time that GMM start fixing the infrastructure that we have?
Is it not time that GMM informed the residents of Govan Mbeki Municipality truthfully about the water crisis?
GMM owes Rand Water over R9M. Residents are told that GMM is keeping to the agreements made for repayment but the debt keeps rising.
Look at the table below to have an updated vision of the Rand Water Debt.
GMM political leadership as well as the officials should stop and take a long hard look at the damage that had been done over the past few years.
Let us now focus on fixing the future!
