Water shutdowns part of life in JB Marks

Should we just accept that water shutdowns are part of daily living in Potchefstroom and Ikageng?

Ongoing disruptions are the result of dilapidated infrastructure and cable theft which means that, without warning, the residents are left without running water for hours sometimes even up to 2 days while the municipality work to fix it.

Johan Zerwick, the DA councilor for Ward 4, Extention 9 which include Skoto, Eskom and Kanana says, “the water infrastructure needs to be improved”. 

According to him the infrastructure of the reservoirs are outdated and needs to be fixed, but the municipality lacks the necessary money to do so.  

The lack of funds stems from the fact that a large proportion of citizens are unemployed and incapable of making a financial contribution towards the services they receive.  

The outdated and damaged infrastructure also leads to water leakages caused by galvanized pipes that have succumbed to corrosion. “Currently if I report a water leak it takes about three weeks to three months before it gets fixed. And in the meantime the water is leaking down the drain or enters the stream of water channels,” says Zerwick. 

Another major issue affecting the provision of water is crime, more specifically the theft of electricity cables. 

The pumps utilised for water distribution cannot function without electricity so when the cables are stolen, there is no electricity and the water is shut down until the cables are repaired. Since there is no anticipation of the shutdown of water, the residents have no time to prepare for it. 

Basetsana Makgale (22), a third-year student at the North-West University, who lives in Ikageng said that most people in the township cannot afford to buy bottled water, which leaves them waiting to access water again until it is turned back on. 

“You can’t cook and can’t do laundry. You have to wait it out until the water comes back,” Makgale added. 

In many instances the municipality has to wait for the delivery of new cables before they can replace the stolen cables, which can leave the residents without water for days. She also added that residents are so used to the municipal systems not working that they just accept the fact that there is another water shutdown and they just have to wait it out.

The water shutdowns do not only affect households. Businesses also feel the effect. Orlando Mbendani, a hair salon owner in Ikageng has to close his salon when there is a water shutdown. “I just have to close the salon and wait for the water to come back,” Mbendani said. 

Without water his salon cannot function so when there is a water shutdown, he loses business. For the entire period when the water is shutdown he cannot operate his salon. It is not only a matter of being unable to shower or do laundry, it is a matter of losing business and money.

According to Jeanette Tshite, spokesperson of JB Marks Municipality, the municipality relies on the residents to report any water problems. They cannot fix a problem if they are not aware that there is one. 

She also noted that when the municipality is aware of the problem, it tends to it immediately, but it can be a lengthy process if it is waiting for the delivery of equipment needed for the repairs. 

She said that the municipality tries to keep the public well informed about the reason for the water shutdown and how the fixing of the problem is progressing. The municipality uses different media channels such as Facebook, Aganang radio station and the municipality’s website to inform the public.

Number to report water problems/leaks: 018 299 5347. – By Monique Rossouw, Rozanne Swart, Eugene Shitkulu, Keneuoe Phadi.