Parts of Butterworth and surrounding areas are still without water after a pipe burst a reservoir three weeks ago.
Acting Amathole District Municipality spokesperson Noni Vuso previously confirmed to the Dispatch that water tanks were dispatched to all affected areas and the pipe burst was being repaired.
But repairs came to a halt when municipal workers embarked on a strike.
“We can confirm that ADM employees in Gcuwa satellite office embarked on an illegal and unprotected strike for protective clothing,” said Vuso. “An interim order was granted by the court on November 15 restraining the striking workers from gathering within 100m of ADM premises and from entering the premises unless they are there to render services as per their employment contracts.”
Vuso said strikers were also barred from sabotaging ADM operations and intimidating or threatening staff.
Butterworth Extension resident Louis Lobrien said: “There are areas to which water is not being carted and there is no work going on around the clock to restore water supply. We’ve been without water for two weeks.
“While extensions of the town have been affected by the burst pipe, outlying areas have been without a regular water supply for months. It is not known whether it is a supply problem or a human management problem.”
John Muir from Extension 6 said: “We are hoping the municipality can quickly fix this water issue as it has affected most of our communities a lot. There is little supply of water and we are limited in how we are suffering.”
Vuso acknowledged that water supply in Butterworth was affected partly by the strike, however, water has now been restored to most areas of Butterworth.
“Unfortunately a number of pipe bursts occurred in the Butterworth area resulting in water outages. The most serious burst occurred on the supply to the Ibika area which includes supply to WSU. A service provider has been appointed to attend to this and it is anticipated that water will be completely restored to all areas by the 18th of November.”
Vuso said there has been an ongoing drought in the ADM area which has resulted in a decrease in dam levels.
“The lowest dam level is in Bedford and Dutywa sitting at 5% respectively.
“The Butterworth dam [Xilinxa] has dropped to 35%. It is therefore necessary to re-introduce restrictions and rationing in a number of areas, including Butterworth, Dutywa, Toleni, Kei Mouth, Haga-Haga, Bedford and Adelaide.”..