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Koukamma Water Crisis

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has finalised an extensive report regarding the debilitating water issues in the Koukamma Municipality that will be submitted to national government to address this looming humanitarian crisis.

Over the past few weeks, the DA conducted oversight inspections of water and sewerage infrastructure in Joubertina and other regions of the Koukamma Municipality to investigate the causes of ongoing water shortages, dirty water, and low water pressure experienced by residents.

The DA engaged with key stakeholders, including residents and specialists, to find lasting solutions to Joubertina’s water and sewerage issues. A detailed report with both short- and long-term solutions will be presented to the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, the DA’s Sello Seitlholo MP, accompanied by a request for urgent intervention.

The findings of the report reveal that the water problems in Joubertina are largely unnecessary and are a result of poor municipal management. Evidence gathered indicates that these issues could have been avoided if it were not for the failures of the inept ANC administration.

Joubertina receives its water from the Wabooms River Dam in the Tsitsikamma catchment area, an area known for its abundance of water resources. The dam is currently overflowing, so there should be no shortage of clean drinking water. However, the issue arises at the water pump station in Joubertina town, where only one of three pumps is operational, while the other two are out of order and disconnected. Additionally, the water purification plant, which was started some years ago, has been abandoned, leaving water untreated before it is pumped to the nearby reservoir.

As a result, insufficient water is being pumped to the reservoir. During our visit to the reservoir, we found that the manhole lid on the reservoir was not even locked, making it accessible to anyone who might throw unwanted objects into it. The reservoir has not been cleaned in years, leading to dirty and undesirable water reaching households.

To make matters worse, the reserve reservoir dam, intended for use when the main reservoir is being cleaned or when extra water is needed, was vandalised years ago and is now unusable. The main valves connecting the reservoirs to the pump station are also inoperable due to years of neglect, making it impossible to clean the reservoir.

Fixing Joubertina’s water issues does not require complex engineering or innovative solutions. What is needed is political will backed by effective administration.

The DA remains committed to serving the residents of Koukamma, and to protecting their fundamental right to clean, safe water, fit for human consumption.

Regards

Henni Britz MP
Koukamma Constituency Leader

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