Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg urges residents to use water wisely and sparingly, in order to allow empty or low-level reservoirs to replenish capacity. We ask that you forego activities like washing cars with a hose pipe, filling pools, but instead of bathing, shower, and use grey water to water the garden, among other measures.
While the infrastructure crisis that Joburg faces is as a direct result of years of neglect under the ANC’s tenure, who willingly divert service delivery funds for nefarious enrichment at the expense of Joburg’s six-million residents, we still all have a role to play in conserving water and urging residents to do their part by reporting water leaks and power faults.
Eskom’s rolling blackouts, coupled with Rand Water and Joburg Water’s aged infrastructure, which the Multi-Party Government began repairing and rebuilding, have created a perfect storm – under pressure power and water infrastructure.
The DA was at an advanced point of finalising requests for proposal (RFPs) for the introduction of independent power producers (IPPs), increasing City Power’s energy stock by 500MW, thus seeing rolling blackouts as a thing of the past. We allocated R1,2-billion and R1,6-billion to capital and operational expenditure, respectively, to reduce breakdowns of the network.
Equally, at Joburg Water the Multi-Party Government allocated R795-million for water supply infrastructure and a further R600-million to sanitation facilities. We had recently opened the R45-million, 15-megalitre water reservoir for Lenasia and surrounds, creating 17 jobs.
The repair and rebuild of Joburg’s infrastructure was well underway.
Now, as we sit today, four of the City’s water reservoirs are at a critically low level. At the same time outlets from the City’s other 25 towers and reservoirs have been reduced to between 30% and 50%. The City is indeed in a water crisis.
Cllr Dada Morero and Cllr Mpho Sesedinyane seem not to have a handle on the dire problems impacting residents’ lives and livelihoods.
The City must now implement emergency measures such as on-boarding emergency supply of water from borehole-owners and adjust their strategy and procurement plan with Rand Water’s.
While the City looks for alternative sources of water, projects initiated by the Multi-party Government to fix the failing power and water infrastructure must be continued with and intensified. The projects include the upgrades of reservoirs and towers, replacement of old water pipes and removal of illegal power and water connections.
Keeping the lights on and providing clean running water are core competencies of local government, which cannot be neglected.
To corrupt the delivery of services is to deny people their basic rights and the ability to live lives of dignity.
While Cllr Dada Morero has proposed a JoJo Tank in every home, we cannot escape the pattern that every idea of the ANC is done with ‘how much money can the party and its allies make?’ in mind.
Ultimately, this infrastructure crisis requires a government that is able to prioritise the basics. That government is a DA one.
DA Councillors are on high alert, responding to queries, and escalating unresolved issues. You can trust the DA to get service delivery done.
As Councillors we still maintain our responsibility of ensuring that residents receive quality service delivery.
Regards
Dr Mpho Phalatse
DA Johannesburg Leader
