Youngsters from the Ndatshana community in rural KwaZulu-Natal install water pumps and pipes purchased by residents last year so that they can access running water. Photo supplied.
Ndatshana residents say they were without running water for seven years
By Bongane Motaung – this post first appeared on GroundUp
IN SUMMARY: Villagers Taking Action: Frustrated villagers in Ndatshana, near Nquthu in rural KwaZulu-Natal, have used their social grants to fund repairs on their old water infrastructure. Taps in the community had been dry for seven years.
Long-standing Water Issues: Residents spent up to three hours fetching water from a communal borehole due to the lack of maintenance by the Umzinyathi District Municipality. The water infrastructure is old and hasn’t been repaired.
Community Contribution: In July 2023, the villagers decided to collect R300 from each household to raise funds for plumbers, water pumps (costing R36,000 each), taps, and pipes.
Continuing Financial Strain: During a visit to Ndatshana, Phindile Gumbi was seen collecting R100 from community members to fix one of the pumps. Gumbi explained: “We actually can’t afford [to contribute] this money but we are forced to pay it because it helps us access water.”
Community Sacrifices: Khethiwe Masango mentioned that she paid her family’s share to avoid the struggle of walking long distances with water containers.
Municipality’s Lack of Response: Thandeka Ngobese, spokesperson for the Umzinyathi District Municipality, promised a response about the water infrastructure collapse on 8 October but failed to do so.
Human Rights Commission’s Involvement: Earlier this year, the South African Human Rights Commission visited the district to monitor progress after a 2023 report highlighted Umzinyathi as one of four municipalities with significant infrastructure backlogs, corruption, and service non-payment.
Recommendations for Water Supply: The commission recommended implementing water delivery plans like water tanks managed by ward councillors and addressing corruption related to the water tanker system, as well as fixing high water losses.
