Tempers rise over water supply frustrations at Macekane

MACEKANE residents are frustrated about having to queue for hours to collect water from tanks placed on the roadside, as they do not have water infrastructure in the area.

They claim their ordeal started as far back as 15 years ago when local authorities introduced mining company Tronox to the area.

Residents allege the mining company told them that it would be dangerous for the community to use water from the river as the water might be contaminated with chemicals.

One of the residents, Bonga Mchunu, told the Zululand Observer that the water crisis is becoming a serious problem in the area.

At present water is only delivered on Mondays and Thursdays each week, and when it is finished they have to look at other alternative ways of getting water for their daily living.

‘We are just six kilometres away from Empangeni and feel we have been abandoned.

‘We have been receiving water in water tanks along the roads, but now the number of delivery trucks has been reduced, which makes it very difficult for us,’ he said.

He claims rumours have it that the mining company donated R500 000 for the development of water infrastructure in the area, but no development has been undertaken.

‘We are the ones who are affected by this. We demand to know what happened to that money.

‘The chief has not told us anything about where the money went to,’ said the fuming resident.

Mchunu also criticised the ward councillors for failing to listen to them when they needed assistance.

‘We have tried several times to phone our ward councillor, but he keeps on giving us empty promises.

‘He has not called a single meeting since he took over. We are very frustrated as we have a right to receiving a proper water supply as everybody else,’ he said.

Leaders respond

Chief Shilo Mthembu admitted that the mining company donated half-a-million rands to provide residents with clean water.

‘We used that money to dig boreholes in various areas, but we did not manage to cover the entire Macekane area,’ he said.

Mthembu explained that this was a once off donation, but that the district municipality has set aside a large sum of money to deal with the water challenges.

Ward 32 Councillor Mntozofika Ndlovu said three meetings had been held in the area and the water crises were a national challenge even though the municipality is doing everything it can to deal with the matter.

‘We know the trucks supplying the community are not enough. We are currently working on a water project for that area,’ he said.

The community has protested several times over the years. Tronox has repeatedly said: ‘(We are) committed to the safety of our employees and all our stakeholders and will continue our engagement with the relevant stakeholders and local authorities to address and resolve concerns.’

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