Roads closed in protests over poor water quality
MAJOR routes between Eshowe, Gingindlovu and Empangeni were blocked by angry protesters yesterday who took to the streets against the poor quality of drinking water in the northern KZN towns.
The R66 between Gingindlovu and Eshowe, as well as the R102 between Empangeni and Mtunzini, were blocked by protesters who complained about contaminated tap water.
A member of the community, who refused to be named, said they had been using water that smelt of sewage for the past two weeks.
“For two weeks we have been using dirty water coming out of our taps,” she said.
Ward 18 councillor, Sipho Nsele, said the community was angry because the problem of contaminated water had persisted for years.
“I am living in the same area and for the past three weeks we’ve been using dirty water from our taps,” said Nsele.
He said residents had resorted to buying bottled water.
King Cetshwayo District Municipality acting municipal manager, Charles M’Maretel, confirmed that they had water issues in Gingindlovu “due to the contamination of the water source by a local industry”.
He refused to name the culprit, saying an investigation was under way.
“The community is understandably upset. However, the situation is, fortunately, being resolved,” said M’Maretel. He said the quality of water provided by the municipality was of the utmost importance to it. “The municipality is faced with challenges relating to the deteriorated raw water quality on Amatikulu River, which is the main raw water source for supplying the residents of Gingindlovu and surrounding rural areas. The deterioration is a result of activities/contamination from an outside source taking place upstream of the abstraction point,” he said.
M’Maretel said the contamination gave rise to a foul odour and discolouration of the purified water.
“As a result, plant operations have since been suspended, pending the improvement of the raw water quality,” he said, adding that the municipality had supplied the community with water tankers.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane, said they were monitoring the situation.