The leader of the ACDP, Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, commended his team for assisting in the restoration of water in Warrenton.
THE LEADER of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, commended his team for assisting in the restoration of water in Warrenton through their continuous engagements.
This follows the announcement by Magareng Local Municipality that residents will have clean water running from their taps by this weekend after almost four months without water.
Meshoe condemned the municipality for politicising the issue and for denying residents their basic right to water for more than three months.
He made the remarks during his visit to Warrenton earlier this week.
Residents have been without clean water due to the municipality’s failure to complete the dysfunctional multimillion-rand water treatment plant.
The promise to restore the supply of water was made by the acting municipal manager (MM), Tumelo Thage, who was practically dragged to go and address the Warrenvale community on Tuesday.
The ACDP delegation accompanied the MM after an engagement with the mayor, Neo Mase, to discuss the urgent restoration of water to the community.
They also visited the Warrenton Wastewater Treatment Plant to check on the progress made, where an amount of R84 million was allocated for upgrades.
Community members expressed how they have been battling without water and how they were afraid of approaching the municipality for answers due to some of their leaders being interdicted by the municipality from making any contact.
The MM assured the community that the pumps are running to fill the dams, while some areas had already started receiving water on Tuesday night.
He explained to the community that the interdict was not to prevent people from going to the municipality.
“The issue is the illegality that happens when there are protests, like the throwing of rubbish, breaking windows and forcing people to abandon their work.”
The MM apologised for the poor communication and the delays in restoring water, but promised the community an open-door policy forwards.
Meshoe expressed satisfaction with his team for pushing the municipality to realise the desperate plea of the community and expressed satisfaction with the progressive engagement at the municipality.
He, however, raised concerns over reports that the municipality, while serving a multi-racial community, was discriminating on whom it would work with.
That is after a volunteer told the MM how he, a qualified mechanical engineer, approached the municipality to offer his services to fix the small pump in order for the community to get water but was slammed for being white.
“We must ensure that we put petty politics aside and put the needs of the people first,” said Meshoe.
“We are all surprised by the information that a local mine, based in Kimberley, offered all the expertise and the material needed for the restoration of water but the mayor reportedly refused the offer and said they don’t want a white person to fix that pipe.
“When I asked the mayor about it during our engagements, she denied this. When I mentioned it to the community during the meeting, they became angry. I found it very sad that they have a mayor who refused help.”
Meshoe also made a commitment to set up a help desk in Warrenton to monitor all communication between the community and the municipality.
“We have to know about all the enquiries and petitions handed over to the municipality and find out why they are not being responded to. We will hold your hand and go with you … knock at the door until the door is opened.”
