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Ezibeleni residents continue to live with dry taps while a local water tank manufacturing company, GoGreen Roto Moulding, has opened its taps to floods of locals who queue to fill their buckets.
Residents said their taps had been dry for three days with absolutely no communication from Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM). However, they said, a municipal truck has been cutting water.
A resident of Unathi Mkefa in Ezibeleni, Sanele Baba said, “We are in a very bad situation and the municipality is quiet. We have so many uses for water, but our taps have been dry for three days now. Some elderly people live alone and can’t come and get water. We are grateful to the owners of this company, they have done what the government has failed to do,” he said adding that the carted water was dirty.
Another resident, Sonwabo Makeleni said he was appreciative of the kindness shown by the company.
He said as a man who suffers from ailments, it was difficult for him to carry buckets of water.
“But what choice do I have? I will eventually get home and have enough water for the day while hoping the water will come out of my tap tomorrow,” he said.
Anele Mtsi, from Zone 2 in Ezibeleni reiterated that the water that was carted was dirty.
“We are so happy that the company opened its doors to us in our time of need. We get clean water here and without any difficulties,” she said.
Nomantombi Ngabaza is an elderly woman who lives with her disabled child.
At 69 years old, she said it was difficult for her to carry a 20 litre container full of water on her head.
“We don’t know what is happening and we can’t go on without water because we have toilets inside our houses. I now have to drive a wheelbarrow. Where do I get such strength at my age?”
Ngabaza, upon hearing the company closes on weekends, said that this meant she had to make another trip as tired as she was. She thanked the company for allowing them to get water.
CHDM executive mayor Lusanda Sizani said the water challenges facing the people of Ezibeleni and Queendustria were a result of the construction of Fikile Gwadana Drive.
“When the road construction work was underway, it was discovered that water pipes were closer to the surface. So, the pipes had to be lowered and that distracted water provision to these two areas. We would like to apologise for the disruption of water.”
Sizani said teams were working on resolving the problem and clean drinking water will be restored. He said trucks were carting water to the affected areas adding that the team working on the problem would indicate as to when water would be restored.
GoGreen managing director, Mike Ntwasa said as a business built among the people, the company could not watch people suffer.
“We understand that there are children who must wash and attend school and elderly people who can’t go without their medication. Water is life and that is why we are busy manufacturing water tanks to store water,” Ntwasa said.
