Lack of access to water leads to abuse of fire hydrants
MARBLE HALL – Desperate members of communities in various wards of Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality (EPMLM), who have for decades been suffering lack of access to running water from Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM), have resorted to illegally fetching the commodity from fire hydrants in Marble Hall Town.
The illegal practice, which residents of the town indicate dates back about two years ago, has sent ratepayers there fuming.
The concerned residents put blame on the district’s municipality’s failure to ensure that communities have access to running water.
The targeted fire hydrants are connection points through which firefighters can tap into a water supply. They are components of active fire protection. The user attaches a hose to the fire hydrant to provide a powerful flow of water.
“We understand people’s frustrations and desperation as a result of lack of running water in their communities but this practice negatively impacts on ratepayers in the town. It should not happen and must be stopped. When you approach them in an attempt to make them aware that what they are doing is illegal, they become extremely violent, saying the water belongs to the town,” said a concerned resident who requested to remain anonymous.
The residents also pointed that people from Koteng informal settlement outside the town were the most perpetrators of the practice, targeting the hydrant at the site of Viva Garage.
Flip Jacobs, DA Councillor in EPMLM, said the illegal practice continued because SDM did not care as it failed to deliver basic services to the people of the district.
When asked if the matter was reported to the SDM, Jacobs said it was but the district has since said it would be look into.
Khomotso Ndlovu, SDM Acting Communications Manager, said SDM was aware of the practice and that it was not allowed.
Ndlovu said that the practice has an impact on the tariff costs and water losses incurred by the municipality.
“SDM is in the process of changing the current fire hydrants and the procurement of new materials is underway,” concluded Ndlovu.
