AREAS in Uitenhage and Despatch have been without water from Monday, July 29 to Monday, August 5 whilst contract workers struggled to repair a burst main water pipeline close to Transnet, next to the R367 Cuyler Manor road.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality communications officer, Mthubanzi Mniki, said, owing to the complications in the mending of the pipeline and subsequent accidental death of a worker on site, completion time has been delayed and difficult to confirm.
Lindile Makapela died on Monday afternoon, July 29, when the trench he was working in was suddenly submerged in water.
“The death of the worker on site also led to a temporary closure of some parts of the site to allow investigations by SAPS, the municipality and the Department of Labour,” said Mniki.
Water tankers were made available to affected residents whose water supply was cut off whilst the repair work is ongoing.
According to councillor Masixole Zinto, DA NMB, there were not nearly enough water tankers.
“In future the metro should look to neighbouring municipalities to assist in providing additional water trucks.
“We do, however, commend the municipal officials and all other site workers for their tireless efforts to restore supply to the affected areas,” said Zinto.
On Saturday, Mniki said repair work is progressing well.
“If all goes well, by close of day we must be finished with repair work. Charging of the pipeline will then follow.
“We envisage water will only be fully restored by Sunday.
“The municipality would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused,” said Mniki.
By Sunday, the water was still not flowing into the taps of affected areas.
The UD Express queried the repair work on Tuesday and the water flow in Uitenhage was back to normal.
Mniki added, “The reservoirs have been filled and we expect everything to go well.”
