The persistent water crisis affecting the South Coast, from Pumula Beach to Port Edward and surrounding villages, has impacted both tourism and local residents, with no sustainable solution in sight for the greater Ugu District.
Pauline Lee, general manager of The Waffle House Ramsgate, shared her frustrations with the Sunday Tribune. She described how the restaurant has been forced to spend significantly on alternative water sources, diverting funds away from service improvements.
"Over the years, we have struggled with water shortages to the point where we had to call a water tanker every two days during off-peak times," Lee said. “During the holiday season, it becomes even more challenging.”
The Waffle House Ramsgate consumes over 10 000 litres every two days when it's not the holiday season, and up to 80 000 litres during peak times. The cost of a water tanker is R3 200 per call, which fluctuates based on demand.
Lee added that the situation had prompted the business to adopt creative solutions, such as installing an eco-friendly water purifier, to keep operations running smoothly.
Brett Tungay, chairman of Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA), emphasised the significant impact of the water crisis on tourism.
"The crisis affects establishments more than tourists," Tungay said.
"While tourists can choose other destinations, local businesses must find alternative solutions to remain viable.”
He added that many accommodation establishments had resorted to installing water tanks or boreholes to mitigate shortages.
Tungay said that the organisation has been engaging with various government bodies, including the new MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, Martin Meyer, to address the water issue with hopes for a resolution.
The Margate Hotel's general manager, who requested anonymity, revealed that during busy weekends, the hotel spent up to R10 000 on water if their JoJo tanks fail.
“We rely on alternatives to ensure our guests have a comfortable stay, but managing these costs is a constant challenge,” the manager said.
Residents too have been frustrated.
Alta O’Kelly said the ongoing water issues had persisted for over two years. “We’ve been struggling with Ugu and the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality to fix a water pipe repair site, leading to deteriorating conditions on Ostend Avenue in Uvongo,” O’Kelly said.
Pensioner Anne Selmer-Olsen, another resident, said they had faced water issues for 14 years, which worsened in the past five years.
“We only get water for 36 to 48 hours a week now. My husband’s medical needs make the situation even more difficult,” Selmer-Olsen said.
Small business owner Sandi Johnston criticised Ugu Municipality for its alleged incompetence, citing unattended water leaks and high bills for air instead of water.
Johnston, who runs a guesthouse in Ramsgate, said that the area’s beautiful environment was threatened by raw sewage.
“We are forced to pay for air due to faulty metres. Ugu’s failures are driving tourists away,” Johnston added.
Peter Davis, who is the former editor of this publication, revealed that he too suffered property losses in the Marina Beach area. Davis attributed part of his loss to what he characterised as gross financial mismanagement by the Ugu Municipality.
Davis explained that he sold his Marina Beach property primarily due to persistent water issues exacerbated by the municipality’s misuse of funds. He criticised the council for allowing significant financial resources to vanish and for failing to address sabotage of the water system by unions and workers.
According to Davis, no accountability has been enforced for these disruptions. He said that the issues were well-documented.
He noted that while the municipality blamed Eskom’s blackouts for the water problems, the South Coast had experienced no load-shedding for weeks, yet water issues persist.
“It’s a disaster,” Davis said. “The province needs to intervene to address the corruption and incompetence in the region. Ultimately, it is the impoverished residents who suffer the most.”
Questions sent to the spokesperson for the Ugu municipality was acknowledged but despite several attempts to get a response, none was available at the time of publication.