ActionSA blames 'water tanker mafia' for Chatsworth crisis
ActionSA in KwaZulu-Natal has blamed a so-called water tanker mafia for sabotaging supply in Chatsworth, south of Durban.
On Monday, eThekwini officials were allegedly threatened and blocked from filling up the area's reservoir 4, delaying water to several communities.
The City says workers were stopped from closing key valves, and a step was needed to refill the system and build pressure.
The city says it's beefing up security, but has warned that the water supply may only be restored in 48 hours.
Affected areas include Arena Park, Crossmoor, Woodhurst and Croftdene.
ActionSA KZN spokesperson Sanelisiwe Zuma says eThekwini needs to be held accountable.
" It is a disgrace that criminal elements are allowed to operate with impunity, sabotaging efforts to restore water supplied to communities or for personal profit. For over a year, eThekwini Municipality has repeatedly claimed to have procured its own fleet of water tankers to eliminate reliance on private contractors and save public funds.
READ: New KwaXimba pipeline to ease water woes for 18 communities
"Yet to date, the whereabouts of these so-called purchase vehicles remain unknown. The lack of transparency raises serious questions about whether these tankers were ever acquired in the first place."
Zuma says they've written to the city demanding answers on the water tanker fleet.
" The blatant disregard for accountability for municipal leaders, particularly the chairperson of the trading service committee, is unacceptable. The water crisis in the municipality is not merely a result of drought or ageing infrastructure. It is a manmade disaster fueled by political inaction, corruption, and collusion.”
Other communities affected: Montford, Moorton, Risecliff, Welbedacht East, Welbedacht West, Woodhurst, Bottle Informal Settlement, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 9, and Unit 11.
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