By Tembile Sgqolana
RESIDENTS of Komani in the Eastern Cape have spent more than a month without water.
When the water trucks arrive, the residents fight to be the first to get it before it runs out.
This is the day-to-day struggle of residents.
Recently, on the Railway under the Mlungisi location, a fight started between two people arguing about their positions in the queue to get water
In a video that has gone viral on social media, the two argue while attempting to attack each other.
Some are holding the two women who are begging for blood.
One of the residents, Unathi Mbenene, said fights are common when residents are waiting for the water trucks.
Our leaders don’t care about the people of Komani. All they want is our votes,” Unathi said.
When the Daily Kasi News went around the location, scores of people were seen sitting on their buckets, waiting for the trucks that cart water to arrive.
Some were walking up and down the location, looking for any house that might have water.
On Monday, 13 January, Mlungisi residents marched to the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) offices demanding water.
The Department of Water and Sanitation reports that the two dams supplying water to Komani are nearly full.
The Waterdown Dam is at 98%, and the Xonxa Dam is at 99%.
CHDM Mayor Lusanda Sizani clarified issues raised and reiterated interventions that have already been put in place to ensure continued water service in the area.
“These include rationing of available water supply for even distribution until the situation improves; additional water tankers that are deployed to the affected wards, with each ward allocated a dedicated truck; additional JoJo tanks currently sourced to be placed in strategic points in each ward to be easily accessible to communities; drilling of boreholes to be connected on solar windmills around Berry Dam to augment raw water inflow into the dam, to be fast-tracked,” he said.
Sizani further indicated that a depleted Bonkolo Dam is unimaginable during the rainy season, and some partners have indicated interest in assisting the municipality’s efforts to drill these boreholes.
“Works are currently underway at Xonxa Dam to repair pumps and pipeline snags, and this is expected to be completed by March 2025. The district municipality has also prioritised repairs to water leaks along the Waterdown Pipeline, with one major leak identified already repaired, adding a much-needed 1,8 mega litres per day of raw water inflow,” he said.
Sizani assured the community of the quality of water provided by the water trucks.
He emphasised that the water supplied to the communities comes from purified municipal sources.
He also urged communities to remain vigilant, noting that water trucks servicing the wards are branded clearly.
“Any unmarked water trucks that communities allege to be drawing water from unpurified sources are not from CHDM,” he said
Daily Kasi News 