GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality said planned water outages cannot be implemented by them to save water in the drought-ravaged Graaff-Reinet and surrounding areas.
"We cannot implement water-shedding," Acting Spokesperson for the municipality Wilca Smith told the Advertiser.
Municipal Manager Dr Eddie Rankwana stated in a recent municipal notice that the "municipality will inform residents should water-shedding become necessary."
As the drought worsens, and the Nqweba Dam becomes emptier, concerned residents grow more upset with unaddressed water leakages in the area.
"A problem about water flowing down Woeke Street was reported [the municipality] over the weekend and went unanswered," Morné van Rensburg said on the Advertiser's Facebook page. "Don't get me started!" he added, to which the municipality answered, "please go ahead if it makes you feel better."
The complaint came during a week-long water outage for some residents, following a power outage implemented by Eskom last week Monday.
Due to the outage, boreholes were unable to pump water to reservoirs.
Over 70 residents reported they had little to no running water to the Advertiser by Monday 16 September, with more complaints streaming in on Tuesday evening. The municipality told the Advertiser on Monday that they were unaware of the issue.
"[We are only aware of] high-lying areas that continuously struggle with water supply," Smith said.
She asked that residents contact the municipality about water queries to receive the correct feedback.
A main water supply pipe in the Wolwas district has been leaking since February.
The leaking water has formed a dam, with rotten water just running back into the leak.
In the meantime, local children have identified the rotten pool of water as the ideal swimming place.
The Advertiser found children making more holes in the pipe on Tuesday 10 September, to enlarge their swimming area.
Furthermore, the Graaff-Reinet water supply remains unsafe for human consumption.
Those who can afford it have to buy water to drink, and even animals are scavenging for their share.
On the Murraysburg road, a merciful Samaritan was recently seen throwing ice cubes for monkeys to enjoy.
Monkeys on the Murraysburg Road enjoying a welcome 'donation' of ice cubes.
Read a related article: Drought torments game
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