The arrogant attitude of the non-performing authorities to penalise and threaten residents for the inability of local and provincial government to deliver water services, is the biggest single problem for the past number of wasted years.
Not a single word about what was done or what is planned. Threats only, and increases in tariffs, is all that’s reported.
This is a reflection on the mess local and provincial government has become.
The drought is a reality. It is, however, also a reality that water shortages in Richards Bay and Zululand has been with us for years.
What was done to alleviate the water shortage?
• More houses were connected to a limited water resource
• More toilets were installed operating with water
• More housing developments requiring water are approved
• More developments are promised to voters
• Tariffs are increased
• Threats of water-shedding
• Ongoing failure to deliver
• Blame the drought, not the inability to plan and develop Zululand.
What was and is still not done:
• No new dams were built
• No pipelines are planned or connected to the Pongola Dam or other water sources
• No desalination plant purchased or installed in Richards Bay or St Lucia
• No maintenance plan to replace and upgrade old, leaking pipelines (43% of water lost, not used)
• No clamping down on illegal connections to water lines.
• No leadership or decision making
• No strategy to increase water supply to Zululand implemented
The threats are very inappropriate. The water shortage is largely due to no vision, no planning and no strategic direction to provide water to a fast growing population.
The water resources are inadequate even when it’s a normal rain season.
High tariffs and threats don’t built dams or additional water storage facilities or capacity.
Wake up and address the real problem of years and years with no vision and a total lack of planning.
Shocking to carry blatant threats by non-performing administrative staff to society as the cover story.
THEUNS
