The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu, met with the residents of Verulam, Tongaat and Phoenix in KZN, yesterday, 4 February 2024; the meeting took place following a number of protests by these communities over constant water supply challenges. Joined by the Chairperson of the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board, Advocate Vusi Khuzwayo as well as the eThekwini Speaker, Cllr Thabani Nyawose, the Minister undertook to resolve the challenges by the 15th of February 2024.
The meeting commenced with Mr Roshan Lil-Ruthan, the Spokesperson of the Verulam Water Crisis Committee, speaking on behalf of the residents. Mr Lil-Ruthan delivered an emotive plea, urging the Minister to intervene and resolve the constant water supply challenges. A number of residents were also afforded an opportunity to address the Minister, with the common thread of all speakers being a request for an end to the water challenges, the implementation of a proper billing system by the City of eThekwini and for repairs to leaks to be treated with urgency.
In addressing the residents, Minister Mchunu emphasised the importance of water and it being a constitutional right, stating the following: “Some institutions - schools and hospitals such as the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, have not been receiving water; this is an occurrence that should not be allowed, one that should be addressed with great urgency. As residents have stated: water is essential for life, and it is a basic human need.”
The Minster also spoke of what transpired during the protests, condemning the injuries that were sustained by residents and the arrests that took place: “eThekwini is a Water Services Authority and is responsible to ensure that water reaches the citizens. We apologise for the occurrences, and as the national Department of Water and Sanitation, we cannot absolve ourselves, as doing so would be a dereliction of duty. Instead, we are engaging and working together with officials from the city. A detailed statement was issued, outlining plans and projects in place to resolve the water challenges in eThekwini.”
One of the projects which will see an increase in water supply in the Umngeni Water Supply System, which supplies eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, iLembe, Ugu, Harry Gwala District Municipalities and Msunduzi Local Municipality and ensure water security is the uMkhomazi water project. In providing an update on the project, Minister Mchunu said the following: “Overtime, raw water in Umngeni and other sources has reduced. Measures need to be implemented. We have been in intense discussions with eThekwini, and as of the 31st of January this year, a resolution was passed by the Council, which will then enable the uMkhomazi Dam project to proceed, thereby guaranteeing water supply and sustainable raw water supply. I will be meeting with TCTA and uMngeni-uThukela Water on the 8th of February to discuss the way forward on this project”.
In addressing the residents, Minister Mchunu assured the residents that the challenges would be attended to, concluding as follows: “The deadline is 15 February for us to overcome all these current problems. The Head of Water in the City, Mr Msweli and the Acting Chief Operating Officer of uMngeni-uThukela Water, will be on the ground, hard at work. Our Director-General, Dr Sean Phillips will convene meetings every two weeks to monitor progress and I am inviting the Verulam Water Crisis Committee to form part of these meetings. The given date for all these challenges to be resolved is the 15th of February; no efforts will be spared in resolving these water supply challenges. Work will be carried out - day and night if we have to, in order to meet this deadline and provide people with water. We will come back after the 15th, to come and account for our undertaking".
Enquiries:
Kamogelo Mogotsi
Cell: 076 523 0085
Wisane Mavasa
Cell: 060 561 8935
E-mail: mavasaw@dws.gov.za
