Unpaid water bill at bus station building hits tenants, passengers

An unpaid municipal account has left the Mthatha bus station with no water for several months.

Bus passengers and tenants in the building have to buy water or bring water from home, and they visit the bush nearby to relieve themselves.

O R Tambo district municipality spokesperson Ayongezwa Lungisa said: “The building is owned by Transnet, and the water supply was cut because they owe the municipality money.”

The station is used by at least three bus companies.

Hawker Zoleka Nkonki said the water supply was cut three months ago.

She said they were afraid to use the bushes to relieve themselves because of the danger of being mugged.

Busisiwe Ngozi, one of the tenants in the building, said: “We do not have water, yet we pay our rent to Transnet.

“We have to buy water to drink and some people fetch water from a river to flush the toilet but it’s a long walk.

“I run a flower [shop] and flowers need water to survive. This not only affects my health, but also my business.”

Tenant Ralton Hendricks said people were constantly waiting for buses.

“People sometimes send their children to pee in our corridors. We work half days in order to avoid needing to use the toilet while at work,” he said.

Transnet official Iain Terry said he was not sure about the details of the building because the person responsible for their properties was on sick leave.