Over the past weekend, the DA conducted several oversights to the shambolic site where a contractor appointed to replace old asbestos water pipes failed to install a stable bypass line.
A public notice was issued by the municipality alerting residents and businesses of water interruptions, but since the commencement of the project Ward 13 has been without water.
Our oversight revealed a sub-standard wire connections to link the pipes and a replacement waterpipe that was clearly too small to allow for adequate water flow once restored.(See photo)
Despite municipal interventions to assist the contractor, water provision is still not restored.
This lack of water has serious consequences for the Lephalale. The local high school and some businesses are closed today and there are Medupi workers who indicated that they cannot go to work because they have no clean protective wear.
Residents desperately tried to contact the ANC ward councillor without any response.
The municipality dispatched water tankers and appointed a new contractor yesterday, who is trying desperately to restore the water flow.
The DA will demand full disclosure by the municipal manager on the appointment of the contractor whose incompetency left large parts of the town without water for 5 consecutive days and counting.