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Urgent Meeting requested to set up investigation into Mandela Metro water crises

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The crumbling infrastructure in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, which led to this weekend’s water shortages, shows negligence on the part of the municipality and cannot be left unchallenged. Furthermore, unless adequate funding is found to maintain infrastructure, similar incidents will occur again.

I have written to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Local Government to convene an urgent meeting to explain the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro water crises.

I have requested the Chairperson, Xolile Nqatha, to call the Executive Director of Infrastructure and Engineering and his associated staff who deals with water issues to report to the committee and explain what happened to cause this incident.

I have also requested that the committee consider establishing a board of enquiry to investigate this matter, to take corrective action and to ensure this embarrassing situation never occurs again in the Metro.  If it is found that there has been negligence in the water department in the municipality, then heads must roll and officials sacked.

The stoppage of water to many areas of the Metro due to the bursting of feeder pipes from our dams is shocking.

Why did this happen?

Was sufficient warning not given to the Engineering Directorate of the possibility of such a crisis happening in the future from previous floods?

Why could this crisis not have been averted?

This disgraceful water crisis will have a knock-on effect on continued economic development in the Metro, seriously affecting growth and job creation.  What confidence does this water crisis signal to potential business investors?

Of further concern are the possible legal ramifications the municipality may face as companies sue for lost production due to lack of water services.

The residents and businesses of Nelson Mandela Bay demand answers on this matter and the municipality must come clean with the public.

It is hoped that the establishment of a suitable investigative body will ensure that this unfortunate incident is quickly remedied and appropriate action is taken to ensure that there is never a repeat of such a water crisis again in this Metro.

Dacre Haddon, MPL

Editors Notes: It would appear that this letter to the editor by Dacre Haddon fully supports the real reason for the water crisis as published on MyPE here: The Real Reason Why the Van Stadens Water Pipes Broke – and NOT due to flooding as has been averred by all and sundry in the department known as communications!

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Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.