Community members trashed the Magareng Municipality earlier this week out of frustration after residents in Warrenton have been without water for more than a week.
COMMUNITY members trashed the Magareng Municipality earlier this week out of sheer frustration after residents in Warrenton have been without water for more than a week.
The main pipeline that provides water to Warrenton was damaged after the floodgates at the Vaal Dam were opened due to rising water levels.
Residents dumped their uncollected refuse at the municipality and locked the doors with their own padlocks on Tuesday, demanding that the premises only be opened following intervention from the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) or the National Council of Provinces.
Tempers reached boiling point after the mayor, Neo Mase, said that community disruptions were the reason why water tanks could not be distributed.
“The mayor is laughing while the community is protesting,” residents complained.
According to an advisory issued on February 28, three tankers would be used to distribute water in Warrenvale, Ikhutseng and in town, while more trucks would be made available as needed.
The municipality also stated that it would request Eskom to exempt Magareng from load shedding until they have managed to get the water treatment plant operational.
Residents indicated that only one water tanker was made available.
“There are between 25,000 and 27,000 residents who need water in Warrenton. We will be taking legal action against the municipality.”
Some residents complained that they had been without water for three weeks, where they were collecting water from the river and drains.
While residents shared their borehole water they indicated that water could not be pumped during load shedding.
Desperate residents said they are being taken advantage of because they were being charged R20 for a litre of water.
“We cannot flush our toilets, bath or wash our dishes or clothes. We are struggling as we do not have access to jobs or an income.
“The municipality must feel how it is to have black bags on its doorstep that are rotting for months in our yards while there is not even a drop of water to wash anything. We have run out of patience,” they said.
Meanwhile, patients in Warrenton are being referred to Jan Kempdorp and Kimberley as the town’s community health centre has no water.
Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Lulu Mxekezo said that due to pressure challenges the water pipes of the four water tanks at the Warrenton Community Health Centre (CHC) had burst.
“Two of the JoJo tanks are connected to a borehole on the premises while the other two JoJos use municipal water. However, due to on and off pressure challenges some water pipes burst, causing the facility to be without water. “
Mxekezo stated that a service provider had been on site since Tuesday to resolve the issue.
”The service provider is busy with a full plumbing assessment to resolve the fluctuating pressure challenge as soon as possible at the facility.“
She said the Warrenton CHC maternity ward was operational, while patients were being referred to the Pholong and Ikhutseng clinics in Warrenton.
“The cases that need a higher level of care are referred to the Galeshewe Day Hospital and the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital.”
[15:19, 01/03/2023] Lulu Mxekezo: Warrenton town is currently experiencing a water problem. The health facility, Warrenton Community Health Centre has four (4) Jojo tanks on site with two of the Jojos getting water from a borehole on the premises, and the other two jojos are filled by municipal water.
However, due to on & off pressure challenges some water pipes burst, causing the facility to be without water.
A service provider has been on site since yesterday to resolve this emergency.
We can confirm that the Warrenton CHC maternity ward is operational and other services are referred to Pholong and Ikhutseng Clinics in Warrenton. The cases that need higher level of care are referred to Galeshewe Day Hospital & Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital.
The service provider is busy with full plumbing assessment to resolve the fluctuating pressure challenge as soon as it is possible at the facility. Ends
[15:25, 01/03/2023] Sandi Kwon Hoo: Thank you ❤️
