After a well-known restaurant and take-away business recently announced its closure due to the water supply interruptions in Kimberley, Northern Cape Business Chamber (Nocci) chief executive officer (CEO) Sharon Steyn stated that residents and businesses can only expect worse to follow.
“The Sol Plaatje Municipality is lying to us about the real reasons behind the bulk water infrastructure disaster. They constantly struggle to keep the Newton reservoirs full, despite the good rains and the many residents who were away on holiday.
“Nocci has a water committee consisting of former officials, people who know the system inside out. We have made several suggestions to the municipality to solve the problems permanently. Our suggestions were ignored.
“Officials are incompetent, and corruption is playing a major role. Businesses like hairdressers and restaurants cannot operate without a constant water supply. Putting out water tankers will not solve the issues. Jobs will be lost.”
She says water is a basic human right.
“We cannot survive without water. We are prepared to approach the Human Rights Court and use other legislation against the municipality if needs be.
“Water availability should not be about political infighting. The supply of water and management of the water infrastructure must be privatised as the municipality cannot be trusted with it.”
‘Deeply regret devastating impact’
Thabo Mothibi, municipal spokesperson, says they deeply regret the “devastating impact” the shutdowns and interruptions have had on businesses.
“We have had discussions with Nocci’s leadership recently and will send an invitation to them as a critical stakeholder to our Water Workshop to be held in a few weeks.
“Of utmost importance is for the municipality to explain its plan around the refurbishment of the bulk water supply infrastructure owing to a repair backlog and a lack of maintenance.
“We are urgently addressing this through the R2,5 billion Budget Facility for Infrastructure allocation from the National Treasury. We are obliged that the work is well communicated. We must do our utmost best to avoid shutdowns or curb extreme water supply interruptions.”
He says stakeholder engagements such as the Water Workshop must “ensure insights are solicited and recommendations on alternative measures adopted to mitigate water losses. We trust the voice of business in spelling out the losses incurred and impact on operations will be heard.
“The uninterrupted supply of quality water is of paramount importance. We are taking the bull by the horns to address the gigantic problem of old and neglected water supply assets.”
“We commit to disseminate information on a regular basis. Communication will be an integral part of the project. We must ensure water security by handling these challenges. It cannot be postponed and must be done now. Our current brave efforts will be well rewarded in future,” Mothibi says.
