EFF objects to placing of tanks
The Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) is putting up Jojo tanks in several households in Ezibeleni as an emergency means to mitigate and respond to water shortages.
EFF branch secretary Thulani Bukani, who also lives in Ezibeleni, was not impressed however as he said the community had not been consulted and that while tanks were placed at certain houses, these were said to be for the whole community.
“There was no community meeting to inform us about the project which means we do not know the criteria that was used to select at which houses the tanks would be placed.
“From what we have seen, the tanks are only placed in houses whose members belong to the ANC. This is a way of campaigning for votes by the ANC.”
Bukani said he wanted to know who funded the project because if it was either the local or district authorities, it was illegal for them to use government money to campaign for a political party.
EFF branch chair Xolani Ngxathu said all they wanted as the community was to be part of the decision-making regarding the placement of the tanks and for it to be inclusive of every community member.
“We have a problem of ward councillors who have no regard for residents. It is the ward councillor’s duty to call meetings when projects like these are being planned,” Ngxathu said.
“We do not know how the sites were identified and this is not the first time community members are not informed when projects are to start. We want the project to be halted so that things are done correctly and we, as the community members, must be allowed to choose for ourselves where the tanks should be placed.”
CHDM spokesperson Thobeka Mqamelo said the project sought to support areas that were adversely affected by water outages and that consultation meetings were held with affected ward councillors with their ward committee members.
“This is an emergency programme responding to water shortages in high-lying areas. In Ezibeleni there are 16 tanks meant to be installed. However, 12 tanks have been installed and the remaining four are still outstanding. These are erected within agreed upon premises to ensure safety. The selected premises were agreed between the councillors and community members.
“As much as these are installed on people’s premises, due to vandalism that is rampant, the water tank outlets are externally overhanging, with stand pipes clearly located outside yards to allow access to other households. The tanks are not fixed to houses with gutter linkages, as it would be done in a normal household water tank.”
Mqamelo said to ensure everyone had access to the tanks, they were placed in different areas to ensure fair proximity for all community members in the affected areas.
“Tanks will also be installed in other high-lying areas of Komani which include Nomzamo, Magxaki and others and consultations with community structures are under way.”
Mqamelo added 24 tanks would be installed in affected areas in Komani and the same process followed in Ezibeleni.