Durban - Thousands of residents in uMshwathi (Wartburg) outside Pietermaritzburg have been without water after water-tanker contractors were threatened by a business forum, who have demanded to be given part of the tender.
The area falls under uMgungundlovu District Municipality. It is the district municipality’s responsibility to deliver the water.
The business forum blocked the filling point for the water tankers last week and have demanded to be sub-contractors in the tender.
UMgungundlovu District Municipality spokesperson Brian Zuma said yesterday that because of the business forums, the municipality had battled to deliver water to thousands of residents.
“We are currently experiencing a disruption of water supply in the uMshwathi area, due to the blockage of water tankers from filling up at the water point in Trustfeed, by a business forum.”
Zuma said this intimidation had been going on for some time and last year, a water tanker driver was shot dead in that area.
Business forums have posed a serious challenge for the province and the country. They have invaded construction sites and brought major projects to a halt. The business community recently warned that these incidents undermined business confidence in the province.
Zuma said: “This is a very serious security matter, which is being dealt with cautiously considering the fatality before in that area.
“In the interim, alternative water points will be used to fill up the tankers while a lasting solution to the matter is being sought. UMgungundlovu District Municipality is committed to ensuring that undisrupted water supply is provided to all communities under its jurisdiction.
“As a municipality we have made every effort to prevent disruption to the provision of water in that area, including opening a case with the police and going to court.
“Unfortunately, all of that yielded no positive results, instead there was a fatality. The process of engagement with (the business forum) as well as the water delivery company is ongoing.
“The forum is demanding to be sub-contracted by a water delivery company. This has been going on for a few years now. For that to happen, there are legal technicalities which require that both parties, and the municipality, sit and find a solution. This is what we are trying to facilitate to find a permanent solution,” Zuma said.
Senzo Mzila, spokesperson for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cotga), said the department was concerned with the situation.
“The department is concerned by these developments. Access to water is a basic human right and nobody should stop others from getting it.
“The department will be engaging with the municipality to find solutions to this issue. The department will also bring other stakeholders such as the Human Rights Commission and other role players in to find an amicable solution,” said Mzila.