Residents of Lebanon resort to fetching water from Mabopane UX, pushing buckets home on trolleys due to the ongoing water shortage in their area.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Residents and small businesses in Soshanguve township and Lebanon in Mabopane, are still grappling with a severe water crisis, receiving minimal support from the municipality for alternative water sources.
Distance Sithole, a salon worker in Soshanguve Block XX, said he struggled to get enough water, having to fetch it with a 20-litre bucket to wash clients, but it was inadequate.
He expressed concern that he might lose income since he could not predict when the water supply would be restored.
"It has been three days, and no one can tell us when the water will be restored," he said, adding that a single bucket of water was not enough for the day, and he had no alternative plan to get more.
Next to Sithole's salon is a bunny chow business, whose owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said she needs a lot of water daily to wash potatoes before frying them into chips.
"I am renting this space, and my landlord fetched water from Soshanguve Extension 4 with three 20-litre buckets this morning. I'm hoping it will last me the rest of the day," she said.
In Lebanon, residents similarly expressed frustration over three days of water outages, echoing the plight of those in Soshanguve.
Although the City of Tshwane provided water tankers on Monday, some Lebanon residents complained that the water was not fit for drinking.
Thokozani Nhlapo, a resident, said he fell ill on Monday after drinking water from roaming water tankers, suffering from a stomach issue that forced him to visit a local clinic.
On Tuesday morning, he resorted to fetching water from Mabopane UX, transporting it back home in buckets on a trolley.
"We got water tankers yesterday, but the water was dirty. I ended up at the clinic after using it for cooking and got medication. That is why I'm considering reaching out to people I know in Mabopane UX for help," he said.
On Monday, municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo blamed the ongoing water outage on planned maintenance at the Hartebeesthoek Reservoir, which began on May 9 and is scheduled to run until May 23, 2025.
He said the city received notice from Rand Water on April 27 about planned maintenance at the Hartebeesthoek Reservoir, adding that the alert was also posted on their social media platforms to inform residents.
“During the 14-day period, the water utility will be intensively cleaning and maintaining the Hartebeesthoek Reservoir,” he said.
The city stated that the Hartebeesthoek Reservoir supplies water to several areas, including Soshanguve DD and L, Ga-Rankuwa, Kruisfontein, Mabopane Reservoirs, Nkwe Estate, SA Breweries, and BMW in Rosslyn.
Mashigo said Rand Water indicated it will use an alternative supply method via bypass to feed reservoirs and direct zones downstream of the Hartebeesthoek Reservoir.
However, he noted that water volume would be reduced during morning and afternoon peak hours, particularly in the Soshanguve L Reservoir, which is the most affected area.
“As a result, consumers in the supply areas are, therefore, requested to use water sparingly during this period to prevent reservoirs or systems from running dry,” he said.
One resident, however, complained on social media: "No water tankers, no bypass as promised - nothing. It seems you decided to do maintenance without proper planning."
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za