As Olifantshoek enters its third week without water, the Democratic Alliance (DA) wants Gamagara municipality to urgently review its security contract, while also seeking answers relating to water tankering costs. This comes amidst growing concern that the municipality’s failure to secure its boreholes is creating a situation that is conducive to exploitation of the water system.
Out of Olifantshoek’s 14 boreholes, intended to help with the supply of water to the reservoir, eight have been vandalized and plundered and are not operational.
Even though Gamagara pays a security company thousands of rands every month, no attempt has been made to secure the boreholes, despite widescale damage. The DA has also yet to receive proof that Gamagara opened criminal cases in relation to the theft at the boreholes.
The municipality has not attempted to repair the dysfunctional boreholes. Instead, a water tankering company was contracted to supply Olifantshoek residents with water, at an enormous cost to the municipality. The tankering company is filling up at the six boreholes that remain operational. They are the smallest and least effective boreholes. This has critically aggravated the current supply and demand issue being experienced by Vaal Central.
The DA is concerned that the situation is exacerbating the plight of communities. We previously asked the municipality to place JoJo tanks in the Olifantshoek town area, following numerous pleas from affected citizens, to no avail. The DA also ferried water from Kathu to Olifantshoek on Friday, to provide relief to residents.
The DA asked, in council, that the expired, month-to-month security contract be reviewed and awarded to a better security company without delay. A week ago, the DA also submitted a letter to the Municipal Manager to probe the costs of the water tankering contract. We will submit a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to obtain these details, if necessary. We will also push for the urgent repair of the boreholes, and for them to be connected directly to the water system.
Residents deserve an effective solution to the water crisis, and for Gamagara to be held accountable for failing to ensure a sustainable supply of water.