By Anita Dangazele
While the rest of Nelson Mandela Bay has had an uninterrupted water supply since the city managed to escape from an eight-year-long drought, residents in parts of Kwanobuhle township in Kariega can only wish.
Residents in certain areas of Ward 46 in Kwanobuhle say they’ve not had water since March 2022. They say they’ve had to rely on their neighbours for water.
Ward 46 resident Masilakhe Lupondwana said though water comes and goes in some areas, in her area it is a permanent issue.
“We started not having water in this area around March 2022. We’ve had to ask for water from our neighbours, and other streets.
“They’ve been helping us with water for the past two years. It’s so frustrating because we are forced to recycle our bath water for sanitation. On the other hand, we can’t even do laundry without thinking twice,” she said.
She said last Thursday a water tanker was dispatched to the area for the first time in two years.
“The truck has been coming to distribute water once a day since Thursday, and that was the first time since this issue started,” she said.
She said they were told that the problem had to do with pipes.
The broad community of Kwanobuhle is no stranger to water issues; it is a common occurrence.
Kwanobuhle has just come out of a two-week water crisis which left about 250,000 residents who live in the township without water.
Though the problem was fixed, certain areas are still without water and nobody knows why.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Infrastructure and Engineering MMC Khanya Ngqisha blames past administration for failing to maintain existing infrastructure.
“We as the EFF only entered into the government less than a year ago; we are also shocked that people have been living without water for two years,” Ngqisha said.
He said the municipality is working on a long-term solution while infrastructural repairs continue.
Meanwhile, Kwanobuhle residents can expect another water shutdown this week, as there is a planned infrastructural replacement at the Ben Stungu street reservoir.
Pictured above: The water tank.
Image source: Supplied
