MEDIA STATEMENT
TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2016
WATER CRISIS: ZAKARIYYA PARK/VLAKFONTEIN/LEHAE: RESIDENTS CALL FOR URGENT ACTION
Residents of Zakariyya Park, Vlakfontein and Lehae near Lenasia have called on the City of Johannesburg to urgently resolve their water woes.
They have also requested an urgent meeting with Mayor Herman Mashaba and residents have called an urgent public meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening.
Since the beginning of November, the three areas have been experiencing severe water stoppages.
Over the past two weeks, the situation has worsened and most taps are dry.
Residents says they have phoned Joburg Water repeatedly with no joy.
“We are given excuse after excuse for the water cuts and the low pressure
including that the reservoir is dry, the level of the Vaal Dam is low and the infrastructure is damaged,”
said spokesperson for residents, Junaid Hussain.
Residents says they have contacted their ward councillor Ace Mokenyane.
“Two weeks later, we are still waiting for assistance,” added Hussain.
One of the worst hit areas is Zakariyya Park Combined School where teaching and learning is affected.
Learners are being released from school early every day because of the health risks.
“This is impacting on effective learning and teaching.
“School Principal T.F.Masher has been constantly phoning the water department to place water tankers at the school since the problem began. None have been provided to date,” said an educator at the school.
Local resident Pastor Krish Matura has appealed to residents to stand united in resolving the crisis.
Vlakfontein resident Zanele Ndlovu says she is frustrated. “Only some homes have water in my area and others are dry.”
Residents are furious and anger is growing by the hour.
“We are being ignored and people are fed-up. We also call on the Gauteng Government and National Dept of Water to assist us,” said Resident Sameer Yousuff.
He said tankers were deployed to the area but supply is not enough and people have to wait in long queues.
A delegation of residents approached social activist Yusuf Abramjee to assist them urgently.
In a series of tweets, Abramjee (@abramjee) called on Mayor Mashaba and the City of Johannesburg to urgently resolve the water crisis.
“Water is a basic human right. Yes, we have a drought and we all have to all save water. But these communities are suffering and their taps keep on running dry. Joburg Water needs to address the problem with urgency,”
Abramjee said.
He said he informed Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokhonyane of the problem who said “it has to be resolved with Joburg Water.”
Abramjee appealed to Mayor Mashaba to “meet with residents and resolve the crisis.”
Enquiries:
Junaid Hussain
07716761798
Sameer Yousuff 0727862991