\u201cA quick update on this matter Madam Speaker is that the Ekurhuleni water shortage situation has improved, with seven previously affected areas now receiving water.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe situation has returned to normality in Benoni, Brakpan, Kempton Park, Germiston, Daveyton, Etwatwa and Tsakane.<\/p>
\u201cHowever, the same cannot be said about Bedfordview, Primrose and Tembisa.<\/p>\n
”In the meantime, our Water Department has been encouraged to increase the number of water tankers in these areas as we look for a resolution to the network problem.\u201d This was said by the mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele, in his address to council, on Thursday.<\/p>
Residents of Germiston, however, paint a very different picture, with even the GCN\u2019s offices still without water.<\/p>\n
Here are some examples of the comments and complaints flooding into the GCN:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is madness, this makes you think if this country is even going to go forward,” said Sonya Landman.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has gone a hundred years back in time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can we use water sparingly, when we have to go to another town to bath.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are full of empty promises, I am yet to see a message from someone that their water has been restored.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taryn Castle-Pearce said on Facebook: \u201dDay seven of no water in Marlands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dennis Morsner added Gerdview and Lynne Braithwaite added Woodmere to the list of suburbs without water for the last seven days.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuses after excuses after excuses, I don\u2019t believe anything they say.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are all incompetent and unqualified idiots that can\u2019t do their jobs,\u201d said Nielson Branco.<\/p>\n
Joan Potgieter Bousfield vented about the financial implications this crisis is causing her: \u201cUsing more electricity to boil water to wash and do the dishes and keep my house clean and filling up the toilet so that we do not have germs in the house on top of wasting petrol looking for water.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is disgusting that nothing gets maintained and looked after.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a small insight into the daily lives of the majority of this country,”said Lauren Churcher.<\/p>\n
\u201cSurely basic maintenance should be done with the money we pay?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are on our way to friends in North Johannesburg for a shower.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel for those who have to face this situation daily.\u201d<\/p>\n
Armando Jeronimo said: \u201cWe have not had water in Homestead since Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been using water out of our swimming pool to flush toilets and my pool level has now dropped by one third.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have also been driving to friends that live in Modderfontein on a daily basis in order to shower and top up our water containers, as we don’t trust that the water tankers are sterile.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you people kidding me?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’re worried about low water pressure?<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about no water pressure? In Homestead and other surrounding areas we haven’t had water since Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI apologise if I have no sympathy, but I’d rather have low water pressure than no water at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father-in-law has been living in Lambton for 49 years, never before (even in drought time) has he been without water for so many consecutive days,\u201d explained Richard Wicht.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all understand problems can occur, but when the problems reach this magnitude, unless there is a major natural disaster, it actually shows lack of management\/skills and maintenance.<\/p>\n
\u201cPersonally I believe, as with most things with South African’s current government, the problem is a culmination of all three and money being used to fill politicians’ personal coffers that was previously used to ensure that services like this are managed and maintained by the right people.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo tired of the lame (non – informative) excuses which differ from day to day and department to department.\u201d<\/p>\n
The question on everyone’s mind remains: when will the water be restored to normal?<\/p>\n
The GCN continues to try to find answers for the residents of Germiston.<\/p>\n