One of the communal taps that were vandalised in Outspan, Matatiele in the Eastern Cape. Now most residents collect water daily from a well. Photo: Tsoanelo Sefoloko
Tsoanelo Sefoloko reports in GroundUp / IN SUMMARY:
- Inconsistent Water Supply: Hundreds of households in Outspan, Matatiele, have had unreliable water access and supply for over 18 months.
- Municipal Blame: The Alfred Nzo District Municipality blames illegal water connections and vandalism.
- Protests: In January 2023, protests highlighted broken pipes and electrical faults as causes of the water supply problems.
- Limited Water Access: Outspan is 24 kilometres from Matatiele, and the five communal water tanks are filled only once a month.
- Resident Struggles: Mathabo Ntise wakes at 3 a.m. daily to walk 500 meters to a well for water, along with 800 other households. She says, “Our constitutional rights have been violated.”
- Historical Issue: A community leader said the water shortages started in early 2023, comparing it to his childhood without water.
- Illegal Connections: Ward councillor Mzingisi Tsoanyane cited illegal water connections to household yards as a problem.
- Municipal Efforts: According to spokesperson Nelisile Xolo, Outspan’s borehole can’t meet demand. Work to improve supply may start in September 2024, but Xolo warned that “illegal connections” could interfere with these plans.
