Question NW3817 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
18 November 2022 - NW3817
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
(1) How will he assist the community of Doornkop in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Mpumalanga, who lack service delivery of water and are in serious need for boreholes as there is no infrastructure. (2) whether he will intervene as the existing bore holes cannot meet the demand as the supply is not enough to provide water to the entire area and occupants are connecting pipes to the main supply water line and they use all the water before it reaches the community; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) on what date and (b) how; (3) whether he has been informed that on 19 September 2020 a notice was going to be delivered to those occupiers of Doornkop that illegally connected to the borehole and /or main supply; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) was the notice served, (b) will he furnish Ms A M M Weber with a copy of the notice and (c) how will he ensure that the notice will be enforced; (4) whether he intends to assist the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality to have a security company to take guard over the pump station and borehole area where the illegalities are taking place in order for the community to have access to their basic human right to water; if not, why not; if so, what process needs to be followed?
Reply:
1) It should be noted that Doornkop is illegally occupied as the land is owned by Doornkop Communal Property Association (CPA). The area is not yet formalised by the municipality as it is still subject to a land claim. The area is supplied with water through six boreholes which are utilized as the main water source. However, one borehole is not operational due to vandalism. The municipality is in the process of fixing the borehole and is supplementing water supplies through water tankering.
2) The municipality has intervened by providing thirty-five water storage tanks that are servicing Doornkop Village, the tanks are placed in strategic areas across the Doornkop Village. The municipality has seven water tankers that are allocated to supply water to Doornkop Village daily to supplement the boreholes.
3) The municipality is not aware of any notice that was circulated on19 September 2020. On 22 September 2021 the municipality arranged a stakeholder engagement meeting with the community including political parties to try and address the issue of illegal connections through public engagement.
The Municipality officials with the support of the former Member Mayoral Council (MMC) for infrastructure Mr Johannes Matshiane were chased away by the community. The community clearly indicated that they will not allow the municipality to disconnect those who are illegally connected as they need water in their yards not from communal standpipes or tankers. The municipality has put on hold their long term plans due to the pending litigation of the land dispute by the CPA.
4) The existing infrastructure which are boreholes are secured, they are equipped with locks and cannot be tampered with. Currently, the municipality has no intention of hiring security personnel as this is a privately owned land and this would require permission from the CPA.
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