Pretoria - The Administrator for Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality (NMMDM), Kumaran Nair, says the municipality is looking at finding a lasting solution to the water shortage problem affecting all communities within its borders.
Nair said the municipality is working on a strategy that will ensure the constant water supply to residents in their taps without any interruption.
This after he led an intervention task team which managed to restore water provision to different parts of NMMDM, particularly the Ramotshere Moiloa Municipality.
The intervention task team was established following the water shortage crisis which resulted in community unrests in Ramotshere Moiloa municipality, a few months ago.
“There is still much that needs to be done to bring water supply stability in the area. Water tankering has never been a long term solution to water shortage, as it is expensive and it’s not sustainable,” Nair said.
The municipality says several boreholes in the Dinokana and Gopane have been repaired, after being vandalised [allegedly] by those who are against the intervention by the provincial government in NMMDM.
“All boreholes are functional and repairs are also made to the ageing water infrastructure,” the municipality said.
Nair said the team managed to repair the vandalised boreholes, which left people with no water especially in areas of Dinokana and Gopane.
“We ensured the operation of boreholes which supply the areas of Welbedacht and Ntsweletsoku. We also activated the existing water tankering contractor to supply water in areas where there was little water, and we also distributed about 32 water containers to such areas,” he added.
Amongst others, the Joint Operation Committee – JOC consists of officials from Department of Local Government and Human Settlement, Department of Water and Sanitation, Botshelo Water, Sedibeng Water, South African Police Service as well as Fire Rescue and Emergency Services.
During the inspection of some of the boreholes, MEC for Local Government and Human Settlement Collen Maine highlighted the need to energise boreholes which are still using diesel to operate.
“We need to electrify all our water sources so that boreholes are not left un-operational when there is a slow supply of diesel. I have instructed my team members to liaise with power utility Eskom to ensure installation of electricity to those boreholes so that our people must not struggle with water,” said Maine. - SAnews.gov.za
