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EC Government ‘encouraged’ to intensify efforts before Makhanda runs dry

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Dear Editor

Residents of Makhanda are enduring a devastating water crisis, on top of a longer-term unpredictable water supply situation – with the water supply now disrupted for over two months in parts of the town.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape will not allow this dire situation to continue and will once again raise the issue with the Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Zolile Williams, in the Bhisho Legislature.

Some of the areas affected by this more than two-month long outage include businesses on Bathurst Street and homes near Chapel Street, Campbell Street, and the Queen Street taxi rank.

Many areas of Makhanda, which is situated within the Makana Local Municipality, are entirely dependent on water trucks for their basic needs. Unfortunately, these trucks operate inconsistently, leaving residents without access to fresh water for days at a time. This situation is untenable.

Although MEC Williams, offered some hope after a meeting with the DA in September, pledging technical support to the municipality, the full extent of the crisis remains undeniable.

The aging water infrastructure in Makhanda urgently needs replacement – an investment the Makana municipality cannot afford due to its gross financial mismanagement. With a revenue collection rate of only 52%, the municipality’s fiscal irresponsibility is evident, particularly when functional municipalities typically maintain collection rates of at least 95%.

Compounding this financial crisis is an environment of violent factionalism, which continues to destabilise efforts to repair and recover the water system.

Sabotage of repair works, along with the failure of the police to take meaningful action against those responsible, is further exacerbating the suffering of our residents. These destructive forces are undermining the very fabric of governance in the municipality, while the people continue to bear the brunt of the crisis.

I have written to MEC Williams to emphasise the need for him to intensify his efforts in Makhanda before the town runs dry, potentially leading to total economic collapse.

We are deeply frustrated by the lack of accountability from the municipality. The residents of Makhanda have endured far too much in the form of unreliable water services, paying for services they do not receive, and living under the constant threat of corruption and political instability.

The time for half-measures is over. The people of Makhanda deserve real, sustainable solutions now!

The DA is committed to working with ethical government officials and the private sector to implement lasting solutions to Makhanda’s water crisis.

Makhanda’s residents deserve to live with dignity by having access to their fundamental right to sufficient water and sanitation.

This crisis cannot wait another day. It is time for decisive action to secure the future of our city and its people.

Regards

Jane Cowley MPL
Frontier Constituency Leader

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