The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape has reported the worsening water crisis in Ritchie to the provincial Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) for an urgent intervention, after political interference at Sol Plaatje municipality has left the local water treatment plant without management.
Water has been off for the greater Ritchie area since Monday. As from Tuesday, residents have only been provided with dirty, brown water for two hours a day, from 8pm until 10pm.
Residents staying in Riemvasmaak and Mathlaku zone have been without water for longer, as Sol Plaatje last filled their Jo-Jo tanks three weeks ago. If the Ritchie plant doesn’t have water, why is Sol Plaatje not ferrying water from its Kimberley plant, only 34 kilometers away.
The situation came to a head on Monday night when two taxis, involved in taxi warfare, burnt out because the local fire brigade was without water to extinguish the fire.
The water situation in Ritchie has been on a steady decline since the acting manager was transferred to Kimberley. Without his expertise, the local team is unable to keep the plant operational. On an oversight inspection to the plant last week, I found that the three new filters were clogged up and out of order.
This does not bode well for the success of the R88 million upgrade to the Ritchie water plant, which is getting underway. Who will ensure oversight of this multimillion-rand project?
On trying to establish when a new acting appointment would be made for Ritchie, I was rudely told by the manager of Water Works to stick to politics. The DA takes great offence to such arrogance. Water is a basic human right and everyone’s business.
I have submitted my concerns to the office of the municipal manager and the speaker, as well as the provincial office of DWS. Sol Plaatje municipality has proved time and again that it cannot be counted on to fix Ritchie’s water problems without external pressure.
The DA will continue fighting for sustainable access to clean water for all residents of Ritchie.