UMKHANYAKUDE residents heaved a sigh of relief when striking water workers resumed duty this week.
Their first job was to repair a broken pipe which again interrupted the recently restored water supply to Mtubatuba, St Lucia and everywhere in-between since Tuesday evening.
In a statement yesterday, spokesperson of uMkhanyakude District Municipality, Mdu Dlamini, confirmed the strike ended at 6pm on Tuesday.
‘A proper infrastructure and asset damage assessment is currently being conducted to quantify the extent of damages for risk insurance purposes,’ said Dlamini.
Earlier in the week WSSA CEO Charles Zwane apologised for the illegal strike action which began on 24 September by members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU).
WSSA confirmed the workers were demanding minimum monthly salaries of R9 500.
‘WSSA has engaged SAMWU on a local, regional and national level in an attempt to bring an end to this illegal action and stop the disruption of an essential service to uMkhanyakude communities,’ said Zwane.
Last week striking workers damaged part of the pipeline and water treatment facilities in Jozini. As a result, WSSA hired a private company to guard key points on some of the critical distribution pipelines and sought legal alternatives to end the strike.
Meanwhile, uMkhanyakude District Municipality has put the water distribution contract out to tender as WSSA’s contract comes to an end next month.
Calling for accountability, hospitality establishments in St Lucia reported near impossible working conditions during the month without water.
One estimated to have spent R50 000 on water deliveries.
Keith Millar of Seasands Lodge was appalled by the ‘shocking state of affairs’ and said, ‘We are trying to run the largest 4-star lodge and conference centre in the greater iSimangaliso Wetlands area with many local and foreign guests. We are filling their toilets from the pond and pool’.
Restoration
Water to St Lucia was restored a week before the strike ended, when a temporary pump operator took control of the Mtubatuba pump station.
St Lucia Ratepayers Chairman, Rudi Redinger, will continue to be involved in water supply in the district.
Although District Mayor Jeff Vilane announced Mhlathuse Water would take control of uMkhanyakude’s supply, Redinger has raised viability concerns.
This plan would require laying many kilometres of pipeline for water to be pumped from either Jozini Dam or the Tugela River.
Redinger says the Mfolozi River’s vast catchment areas must be correctly utilised in future to prevent such chronic shortages.
