Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Jeanne Adriaanse.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the JB Marks Local Municipality has been hearing the desperate cry of distress from the residents of Ikageng, who have been left without water supply for three weeks.
It is unconscionable that the community’s basic right to water has been taken away, along with their dignity.
Young and old had to wait in line to receive water from a tanker. Residents have become accustomed to the image of employees tapping water at their employers’ premises on a daily basis in order to cook and wash.
The reason for the lack of water is that the reservoir had to be emptied after an alleged poisoning incident and was never filled again, partly due to loadshedding. This resulted in a water demand that exceeded the ability to supply water to fill the reservoir. This was exacerbated by the inability of the service providers to provide fuel for standby generators after not being paid for overdue accounts.
The outcry of the community resulted in the N12 protests which have become a regular feature, posing a safety risk to motorists.
The DA is grateful to report that on 7 July 2022, fuel was supplied for the reservoir’s generators and that a positive water inflow is expected by the end of business today, and that a second smaller generator will also be used to satisfactorily raise the reservoir’s level and end the ongoing problem.
The DA also want to warn residents that the reservoir that supplies water to the majority of the town is currently at 64% capacity. If residents do not immediately reduce their water consumption, the majority of Potchefstroom will face water disruption problems.
We urge all residents to conserve water because our water supplies are under severe strain, especially with loadshedding increasingly disrupting the already stressed service delivery levels.
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.