Durban — More oThongathi areas are now receiving water, this after eThekwini Municipality mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said that most parts of the area were starting to receive water.
On Monday, residents reported that Tongaat South Reservoir opened and they were finally going to receive water.
On Friday, the municipality said that water started flowing from taps in households and businesses in the Metcalf Reservoir Zone as the commissioning of the oThongathi Water Works is under way.
“The restoration of water supply in oThongathi and surrounding areas is being implemented in phases. During this process, leaks are being identified on the trunk mains which city teams are repairing to prevent water being wasted,” the municipality said.
The municipality urged residents whose water has not yet been restored to exercise patience as the city works to complete the commissioning of the oThongathi Water Works.
However, there are still areas without water since the April floods.
Last week Kaunda said that “in those areas (without water) we are attending as we receive reports that in this corner is a problem we send our teams they look at what has been damaged, then we replace that, we repair that, then we service those communities.
“So wherever they are still challenges, we are prepared, our teams are on the ground to identify those challenges and respond swiftly so that people can access water.”
Kaunda said that they were happy the people of oThongathi have water, after more than seven months being without.
“We are happy that we've commissioned our plant. The story that is not being told is the story that we were anticipating to complete on October 27, but we completed on October 26. That’s a story that must be told that this is what is called capacity. You put your target but before your target you complete, you commission the plant,” he said.
Kaunda added that most of the people are starting to receive water but there were pockets of areas where the municipality’s infrastructure has been vandalised.
“Remember that we provide services but on the other side, there are people who make it their responsibility to go and steal and vandalise the infrastructure of the municipality.
“Whether we talk about the cables of electricity, you talk about water, our valves, everything. Some of them they take all these things and sell them somewhere,” he said.
Kaunda said that they were happy with a law change initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition that will eliminate such activities.
He said that those who own scrapyards would have to tell us where they source the material they receive and if they cannot answer, then the government must deal with them, they must face the consequences.
“So, that on its own is a separate intervention,” Kaunda said.
Daily News