DWS condemns shutdown of access to water infrastructure

The Department of Water and Sanitation in Limpopo condems the closure of Nandoni Water Treatment Plan by protesting residents of Tshiulungoma and Muloti villages early this week.

The protestors overpowered the secutrity personel guarding the plant and took the keys, locked it and this will have far reaching implications as it has affected water supply to communities that are benefiting from the plant.

According to Water and Sanitation Provincial Head, Mrs Lucy Kobe, these acts of criminality have no place in Limpopo and whatever issues community members feel aggrieved by, they should not lead to the shutdown of the plant.

“We fully understand that people have a constitutional right to protest, however no one has a right to infringe on someone else’s right to have access to water. The protestors also endangered the lives of the people guarding the plant, something that is against the law as well and we condemn that”, she emphasised.

Kobe said national government is aware of the water challenges experienced in the area and added that they are working closely with the Provincial and Local Governments to come up with immediate solutions.

She indicated that part of the problem had been the non-functional pump station pumping water from Tshiulungoma to Mutoti village. The pump station has since been fixed but it cannot be tested now since the plant is closed.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) strongly condemns the acts of shutting down of water  infrastructure in the strongest possible terms. Such conduct has negative implications on service delivery, compliance of municipalities and water wastage which cannot be afforded in the midst of unreliable rainfall.

For more information contact: DWS Media Liaison Director Sputnik Ratau on 082 874 2942

Source: Government of South Africa