Following the on-going water crisis, the DA has urged the metro to prioritise the maintenance of existing infrastructure to avoid a complete collapse of both the electricity and water systems.
“Answers to questions posed by the DA paint a dismal picture of existing infrastructure and its maintenance,” said DA councillor Bruna Haipel.
“For example, there were over 2 000 unplanned power interruptions across the metro in the 2013/2014 financial year alone, and 50 per cent of these were underground cable faults.”
Each of these power outages has to be identified and investigated individually.
“The DA has requested that the energy department provide the oversight committee with a comprehensive breakdown of the problems, including what actions were taken to resolve the power failures,” Haipel said.
The DA feels it is important to have this information in order prevent further similar problems.
“It is clear to the DA that the metro is not budgeting sufficiently for maintenance and the upgrading of outdated infrastructure,” Haipel added.
“The challenges facing the energy department could easily be rectified if proper steps are taken.”
The DA suggested the following solutions to helping the on-going situation: adequate budgeting for the upgrades and maintenance, proper cooperation with the SAPS to prevent theft of equipment and cables, and the prevention of illegal connections which not only cost the metro over R250-million per year, but also put unnecessary stress on the system, causing more faults and shortening the life of the equipment.
“In the water department, delays are caused by bad planning,”Haipel said.
“The Vosloorus and Pomona New Eastern outfall sewer tenders and the Elsburg Koppies contract were not awarded in the last financial year.
“Delays of this nature on huge projects such as these have far reaching consequences for residents and simply cannot be allowed to continue.”
Hi I was at that meeting on Monday night nothing was resolved because blame was thrown around at the time residents were not blamed for the water shortage Now all of a sudden its the residents fault that the water is dried up if they fixed the water meters that are running down our roads at a rapid pace how many mega litres of water is wasted then you get them to come out and there are ten of them standing around one little hole they put a temp pipe in and come back a week later now tell me where is the maintance they say call and report leaking pipes and stolen taps from water meters you do that and it takes them 3 weeks to come out and fix it in the mean time water is wasting down our roads it can’t go into the drains because that’s full of rubbish too they better start jacking up or else we are going to have one major problem in this country they call the rainbow nation.
Why have faith in this, the DA are just as much to blame they have known about the electricity and water problems and when the shit hits the fan they want to rally around. Rand water are currently releasing water to the municipality who are supposed to balance it between residents yet certain hose holds have water 3 times a day and Fishers Hill has not seen a drop. MR and Mrs Councillor don’t jump up and down when its to late – do what you are paid for and ensure that everyone has a share of the little bit of water that the money making thieves steel from us on a monthly basis.HAVE A WONDERFUL BATH CLEAN CLOTHES, FLUSH YOUR TOILET GIVE YOUR ANIMALS WATER AND HAVE NO SHAME THAT YOU WAITED UNTIL THE SHIT HIT THE FAN MR AND MRS COUNCILLOR
Hi, the Ekurhuleni Metro sucks. Stop stealing our hard earned money which we pay for water,electricity and rates and use it on maintenance and not on your pocket! STOP STEALING OUR MONEY!!!!!!!!!! And you people out there that steal electricity may you rot in jail with the ANC councilors