Zululand District residents in water crisis

WARD 18 residents of Ezihlabeni area outside Ulundi claim that the Zululand District has failed to provide them with water since March and refuses to give answers or take responsibility for the situation.

Disgruntled resident, Xolile Zulu (29) said that they have been in and out of the district offices to demand water, but there is no one willing to assist.

‘When we asked them to give us water tankers as a temporary solution, we were told that the manager responsible for water tankers was on leave.

‘Water is an essential need and life without water is very difficult to cook, drink and bath.

‘We engaged our Ward 18 councillor but he failed to help us. We than decided to approach the district offices for answers, but all our attempts were in vain.

‘Elderly citizens and sick people are the most affected residents because they can’t afford to go around looking for water.

‘We don’t even have a nearby river or a borehole where we can get water. Our life is miserable,’ said Zulu.

Zulu explained that this has a severe impact especially to the elderly people, the sick and those who cannot afford to hire a bakkie to get water from neighbouring villages.

Zululand District Acting Municipal Manager, KE Mpungose, confirmed that Ezihlabeni residents have raised their discomfort for not having water since 28 March this year.

‘Due to the imminent water plant upgrade project to be implemented the next financial year, water is supplied on rotational basis as to not deprive other areas.

‘Water supply is augmented with tanking services to improve its provision to the community, as a result, this area will have access to piped water during the day.’

‘The inconvenience caused is regrettably beyond our control for now, but remedial actions are being put into place to resolve the problem permanently,’ he said.

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