Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Mrs Edna Molewa has called on the people of Lillydale in Bushbuckridge in the Mpumalanga province not to prevent workers from gaining access to the area while attempting to restore water supply. Yesterday (Wednesday 9 May) workers trying to install new transformers which pump water from the boreholes supplying the community were unable to gain entry to the village due to violent protests taking place.
The Department, together with the Bushbuckridge Water Board and the local municipality, has established a task team that is working to fast-track the restoration of supply following the theft of the transformers.
It should be noted that the Department was only made aware of the water shortages on Monday (7 May). Officials from DWA were immediately sent to the area to investigate and it was then established that criminals are stealing the transformers thereby leaving residents without water. However three new transformers have been acquired and attempts are being made to source the remaining four needed to fully restore supply. It is expected that all seven transformers will be installed with the assistance of Eskom today should the workers gain access to the village. In the meantime the Municipality has been instructed to employ armed guards to protect workers and to prevent the theft of the new transformers.
Water samples have also been taken from a stream in Lillydale to be tested for cholera and other water borne diseases. DWA officials are also visiting the local clinic following a media report claiming cases of cholera have been reported.
“I’ve also learnt of the burning of water tankers by protesting community members, we condemn this behaviour as unacceptable. The tankering of water is a temporary but necessary relief measure for residents”, Minister Molewa added.
The Department of Water Affairs is to have an urgent meeting with the Provincial Department of Local Government to seek sustainable solutions to water supply problems in this area, including security of infrastructure which is a huge problem in the Mpumalanga Province.
In addition the Department together with the Municipality is expecting to have bulk water supply measures in place in the Bushbuckridge area in the next four to five months.
Enquiries:
Linda Page
Tel: 0123368250
Cell: 0824604482
Mandla Mathebula
Cell: 0832826133
Plan to solve Water Challenges in Lillydale
