Eden and Amatole District Municipalities
2 February 2009
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF), in support of Local
Disaster Management structures, has deployed four water bunkers to the Eden
District Municipality, and six water bunkers to the Amatole district
municipality. Both municipalities have experienced water shortages, and are
currently unable to meet the daily requirement.
Operation HUMAN, the SANDF operation in support of both municipalities, was
launched on 25 January 2009 in the Eden district municipality and on 28 January
2009 in the Amatole district municipality.
On 22 January 2009, the river supplying water to the Sedgefield area in the
Western Cape ran dry. The reserves in the reservoirs of the area have
subsequently also run out. This resulted in water shortages in the Eden
district municipality. Local authorities have several water tankers, but are
unable to meet the daily requirements.
As of 30 January 2009, 367 000 litres of drinking water has been supplied to
the townâs main reservoir by SANDF teams, using four water bunkers.
The Amatole district municipality in the Eastern Cape, servicing the towns
of Adelaide and Fort Beaufort is also unable to meet the daily requirement as
water reserves are depleted. The SANDF team in this area has thus far provided
137 000 litres of water, pumped from the Fish River and transported to the
Adelaide water purification plant.
Operation HUMAN is scheduled to continue until 28 February 2009 where after
the situation on the ground will be re-accessed.
For enquiries contact:
Colonel Petrus Motlhabane
Tel: 012 355 6388
Cell: 072 288 3402
Issued by: Department of Defence
2 February 2009
