Buffalo City Metro’s ailing water infrastructure has caused major disruptions for hundreds of Mdantsane and Potsdam residents after their main water pipe burst.
Residents from Mdantsane’s NU14, 15, 16 and 17 and Potsdam village were left desperate for water after the pipe burst underground at a major intersection near NU14 on Tuesday evening.
Learning was affected at primary and high schools, which were forced to release pupils as early as 11am due to water shortages.
The Buffalo City Metro had made provision for water tanks in the affected areas, but these reportedly did not visit schools.
Residents lined up in the streets with empty buckets, pots and containers waiting for water tankers to reach their units.
The cause of the pipe burst was not clear by late yesterday as BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said bursts were unpredictable and could happen at anytime.
Workers on site, however, said ageing or damaged infrastructure was believed to be the cause of the burst pipe.
Irate resident Nombuzo Krwala from NU14 said: “This situation is really bad and we were not informed as to when the water would come back. It has really affected us. Water is life, it is not like other basic needs. It is crucial and we don’t even know what could have caused this.
“Our children had to come back early from school. We just hope the water will come back and this whole thing can be sorted out.”
Matebese said that as soon as the matter was reported to them, residents were informed through community radio stations.
He said repairs to the 600mm diameter main pipe were expected to be completed by yesterday afternoon.
Pupil Thandolwethu Paliso from Sandisiwe Senior Secondary School said: “There was no water at all in our school. There were no water tankers and the teachers decided to let us go home. We can’t do anything without water.”
Asked how the metro was dealing with its ageing infrastructure, Matebese said it was challenging to upgrade all the old infrastructure as that would cost millions of rands and some areas would be without water for a long time.
“Once we experience such pipe bursts, we replace and maintain the affected areas. We try to beef up where we can and to capacitate the ageing infrastructure.”
Mdantsane, Potsdam areas left high and dry
Residents from Mdantsane’s NU14, 15, 16 and 17 and Potsdam village were left desperate for water after the pipe burst underground at a major intersection near NU14 on Tuesday evening.
Learning was affected at primary and high schools, which were forced to release pupils as early as 11am due to water shortages.
The Buffalo City Metro had made provision for water tanks in the affected areas, but these reportedly did not visit schools.
Residents lined up in the streets with empty buckets, pots and containers waiting for water tankers to reach their units.
The cause of the pipe burst was not clear by late yesterday as BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said bursts were unpredictable and could happen at anytime.
Workers on site, however, said ageing or damaged infrastructure was believed to be the cause of the burst pipe.
Irate resident Nombuzo Krwala from NU14 said: “This situation is really bad and we were not informed as to when the water would come back. It has really affected us. Water is life, it is not like other basic needs. It is crucial and we don’t even know what could have caused this.
“Our children had to come back early from school. We just hope the water will come back and this whole thing can be sorted out.”
Matebese said that as soon as the matter was reported to them, residents were informed through community radio stations.
He said repairs to the 600mm diameter main pipe were expected to be completed by yesterday afternoon.
Pupil Thandolwethu Paliso from Sandisiwe Senior Secondary School said: “There was no water at all in our school. There were no water tankers and the teachers decided to let us go home. We can’t do anything without water.”
Asked how the metro was dealing with its ageing infrastructure, Matebese said it was challenging to upgrade all the old infrastructure as that would cost millions of rands and some areas would be without water for a long time.
“Once we experience such pipe bursts, we replace and maintain the affected areas. We try to beef up where we can and to capacitate the ageing infrastructure.”
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