{"id":180184,"date":"2018-06-08T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-08T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/180184\/thirsty-kzn-south-coasters-appeal-for-water\/"},"modified":"2018-06-11T10:18:56","modified_gmt":"2018-06-11T08:18:56","slug":"thirsty-kzn-south-coasters-appeal-for-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2018\/06\/08\/thirsty-kzn-south-coasters-appeal-for-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Thirsty KZN South Coasters appeal for water"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caxton Community Newspapers are appealing to their readers to come to the rescue of thousands of people living on the KZN South Coast who have been without a stable water supply for two weeks.<\/p>\n

And there is no end in sight.<\/p>

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Some are the poorest of the poor and they have had to rely on store-bought water because of an ongoing strike by workers at the Ugu District Municipality.<\/p>\n

Communities were being supplied by tankers, but the municipality was forced to stop the service because a \u2018pressure group\u2019 started intimidating drivers.<\/p>

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Working on a skeleton staff of senior people, the municipality has worked tirelessly to restore water to areas.<\/p>\n

However, the moment they get water flowing, pipes and valves are sabotaged.<\/p>\n

A court interdict has been ignored by workers. Police and security firms are on high alert and the crisis has been elevated to the provincial government which declared it \u2018a disaster\u2019.<\/p>\n

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Residents on the KZN South Coast stand in line for water.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Currently, there is a \u2018Mexican stand-off\u2019 between management and workers who are demanding back-pay and \u2018overtime\u2019 following a previous strike over a cancelled \u2018death and disability\u2019 insurance scheme.<\/p>\n

At that stage, the municipality capitulated and refunded millions to the workers to get them back to work, but they also implemented a \u2018no-work, no pay\u2019 policy.<\/p>\n

Hence the latest strike.<\/p>\n

While some South Coast residents have the luxury of drawing water from swimming pools, there are many thousands who don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Unemployment is high and money scarce.<\/p>\n

Yet they are now forced to buy bottled water to live.<\/p>\n

Caxton is making a general appeal to readers of its newspapers to drop off bottled water at their local newspaper office.<\/p>\n

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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n

Water collection to make a difference in people\u2019s lives<\/a><\/p>\n

Water treatment myths busted<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The water will then be trucked down to the South Coast Herald offices in Port Shepstone for distribution to the neediest communities.<\/p>\n

For more information email to bevisf@dbn.caxton.co.za or call 039 682 0155.<\/p>\n

To help the residents of the South Coast water can be dropped off at the GCN\u2019s offices, situated at 25 Main Road, Fisher\u2019s Hill, during office hours.<\/p>\n

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Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za <\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n

Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n

Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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