By Doreen Mokgolo
The residents of Hammanskraal and surrounding areas are worried about their health and the possibility of being infected with cholera.
Water supply in the area was cut after the Temba Water Treatment Plant that supplies water to these areas was shut down on 7 October.
This follows sewer contamination at the Leeukraal Dam, which feeds the treatment plant with potable standards, after a fire that gutted the Pyramid Substation on 2 October left the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works without electricity.
Since then the taps have run dry, and many are depending on tankers to deliver water in their areas – but this only happens at three-day intervals.
Those who can afford it pay up to R300 to the truck drivers to fill up their personal Jojo tanks, while others have resorted to collecting water from old and abandoned wells for survival.
A resident of Majaneng, Maria Skhaolela, said the situation has reached health threatening levels.
“The water delivered by the trucks is often so dirty that we are forced to use it only for cleaning and for toilets.
“We have to buy water from shops that sell filtered water – what about those who can’t afford this?” she said.
Skhaolela said the City of Tshwane doesn’t care about the residents and continues to gamble with their health.
“In 2023 there was an outbreak of cholera with over 30 people dying.
“How many lives must be lost before water is restored and they stop delivering the brownish dirty water?
“We are told water will start coming out by the end of the month, but by then how many lives would have been lost due to cholera from water delivered by the City,” she asked.
Resident Dora Msimango said the matter would have been resolved immediately if it was affecting suburban areas.
“The life of a resident in the township doesn’t matter, that’s why we are forced to share water with animals,” she said.
A statement released by the City’s head of communication, Selby Bokaba, stated that the treatment plant remains off pending the improvement of water quality from the Leeukraal Dam.
“Pumping had to be stopped to avoid supplying poor water quality to our customers.
“At the moment scientists are monitoring the performance of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works to ensure that it complies with the required standards.
“The City will continue to provide roaming water tankers to residents until the situation is normalised.
“The City’s contracted service providers are delivering water for free and residents don’t have to pay for it,” he said
Pictured above: Residents waiting for revolving water tankers.
Source: Supplied
