Ministerial team and BCM meet over the Amatola Water Board challenges
Mayor optimistic over department invervention and that issues facing city will be resolved quickly
Officials of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality met water and sanitation minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy ministers David Mahlobo and Dikeledi Magadzi at the Coega Industrial Development Zone Conference Centre in Gqeberha last Thursday.
The Buffalo City Metro said it was optimistic that the water challenges facing the city would be resolved quickly.
BCM executive mayor Xola Pakati, in his remarks after the meeting, said: “We are comforted with the fact that the minister and the deputy ministers are committed to playing their part in ensuring that relations between Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and the Amatola Water Board are being strengthened.
“We are comforted by the fact that the ministers and the entire department is up to speed with this reality which remains a threat to the municipality, more particularly its ability to deliver a reliable water service,” he said.
Mchunu added that the department was attending to some of the challenges confronting the Amatola Water Board, and would regularly update the municipality on developments.
“While the water challenges in the city are historic and structural, the immediate and long-term interventions we briefed the ministry on, and its role in them, will see us resolve the challenge in a sustainable manner,” Pakati said.
“Buffalo City currently supplies water to 98% of its population, with a 2% backlog, and sanitation to 96% of the population.
”There is a 4% backlog,” Pakati said.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said: “The municipality has been facing water shortages since flash floods in January, with constant water interruptions and water quality alerts.
“Yesterday [last Wednesday], the metro called for a speedy intervention into the challenges facing the Amatola Water Board.
“The ministry committed to generally improving the performance of the Amatola Water Board via different mechanisms.
“The municipality urges the community to use water sparingly and refrain from large water-consuming activities until operations return to full capacity.”