Depot leak left to gush for five days
BCM accused of hypocrisy over slow action amid water crisis
Water gushed from Buffalo City Metro’s bus depot in East London for five days until the mains were turned off.
The spill was caused by vandals on Sunday but BCM had no explanation for why the water kept gushing for so long, amid stage 3 water restrictions which have seen the metro calling on residents to save water. Residents have been paying higher tariffs since January 1.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said: “There was a break-in at the depot on Sunday. They vandalised the sinks and caused water issues. [We] closed the water at the mains. Plumbers attended to the leak on Friday.”
He said of the vandalism: “Security was present and was threatened but the police arrested the culprits on Sunday and a case has been opened.”
He said the cost, which included damage to the buildings, sinks and employees ’ clothes, was not yet known.
DA councillor Sue Bentley said BCM ’ s behaviour was hypocritical. Thousands of litres have been lost, yet the BCM charges residents massive and punitive rates. You can’t have two sets of rules for different people. ”
She criticised the metro for being slow to react.
“I don’t think they have the capacity to be solution-orientated and stop problems before they happen
this goes for illegal dumping and other things,” Bentley said.
She said the lack of security was also a key factor in the vandalism and pillaging of municipal amenities and infrastructure.
In recent acts of destruction, BCM ’ s public pools were vandalised.
The Joan Harrison pool complex suffered a major loss when equipment worth R335,000 was stolen; the most costly being an electronic timing device, which cost R260,000, plus a starting device worth R70,000, and tools worth R5,000.
The Ruth Belonksy pool complex in Parkside was stripped of its barbed wire security fence and CCTV cameras stolen a long time ago. The pool gate is no longer locked.
In September, the Bonza Bay beach lifeguard shack was burgled and vandalised, with extensive damage caused. The vandals stole a geyser, taps, computers, plumbing pipes and aluminium windows.
In February, the Dispatch reported that BCM properties and assets were being looted, with electricity cables being the most sought-after items.
The metro’s 368 security guards appear to be losing the battle to protect and preserve assets.