The Department of Water and Sanitation has noted with concern the on-going protest at Kliphoek Pump Station by the Sheepmoor community. The Sheepmoor community is currently protesting at DWS’ Kliphoek Pump station due to water shortages to the community.
There is currently no abstraction from the nearby river that supplies the Water Purification system, as the system’s malfunctioning pumps are being repaired.
The DWS Kliphoek pump station is about 5km away from the Sheepmoor community and the station is only used for the bulk transfer of raw water to Eskom, Sasol and other entities.
The department would like to indicate to the community, especially at Sheepmoor, that the Kliphoek pump station does not supply water directly to the community and it does not have the required infrastructure in place to do so.
DWS is calling for peace and calm in the community as the current situation is resulting in Kliphoek Pump Station departmental officials not being able to get to work, thus negatively affecting the pumping operations at the station.
The department will engage with Gert Sibande District Municipality and community representatives in resolving the matter. The DWS found it encouraging at the attendance of the community meeting held to address the issues raised by the community as well as to inform the community of the realities of the situation at hand.
The boreholes installed by the municipality will as per season run dry in winter due to lack of rain and thus the water table will go down. The Msukaligwa Municipality is making temporary arrangements to supply community with water tankers and also address the condition of such tankers. Weekly or 2-weekly laboratory testing of this water will be performed to ensure the community is drinking safe and clean water.
Another reality is that at the moment there is no water abstraction from the adjacent stream as it is dry. In the meantime, schooling must resume as soon as possible whilst the outstanding issues are still not resolved and continue to be addressed.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
