LIGHTS ON, LIGHTS OFF
Makhanda’s water supply is unsettled one moment it’s gushing from the taps, the next moment there’s nothing. This is causing untold consternation among residents. Then there’s the electricity supply with national load-shedding mucking up citizens’ daily lives.
For instance, Grahamstown 2 residents were informed that load-shedding on Wednesday last week would include 7pm to 9.30pm. Then that slot disappeared from the schedule and residents were led to believe they were free from loadshedding for the day and life could get back to normal.
Then the power went off at about 7.30pm. What was going on? Who flicked the switch? Eskom, please sort yourselves out. The citizenry is tired of this nonsense. Meanwhile, a social media post last week enquired, echoing the thoughts of many: “Can anyone explain why Grahamstown 2 is constantly subjected to loadshedding, and not Grahamstown 1? Ironically, there was no load-shedding in Grahamstown 2 last Saturday and Sunday.
STILL DRY TAPS
At the weekend, Makana Municipality reported that all areas of Makhanda were expected to have water supply, but at the same time the local authority encouraged consumers to use water sparingly.
The municipality’s statement confirmed that night restrictions are still applied between 8pm and 4am to ensure “equitable supply” on a daily basis, especially during normal business hours. While the level of Settlers dam is low,the water treated at James Kleynhans water treatment works to the north of Makhanda is fed into reservoirs which presently stand at 100% for Botha’s Hill 1 and 2, as well as the high level reservoir and Tantyi reservoir, while the low level reservoir is 80%.
However, just a couple of days earlier, the municipality reported there was “some delay” with opening the Botha’s Hill reservoirs as repair work needed to be done on the line. Water would only be available from midday for residents served by the reservoirs.
Another delay was with low-level areas such as the CBD and those in the vicinity of Fort England Hospital. The municipality apologised “for any inconvenience that may have been caused”.
In response to the municipality’s statement that water would be available from midday on Friday last week, one resident wrote on social media: “Midday came and went, and still dry taps.”