Hammanskraal Residents Desperate for Clean Water as Government Misses Deadlines

• The residents of Hammanskraal in Gauteng are allegedly in desperate need of clean drinking water
• The government allegedly failed to meet its own deadline to have the Klipdrift Water Treatment Works fully operational
• Residents have become so desperate that they are now requesting the return of contaminated water

The residents of Hammanskraal have become so desperate that they are now even considering returning to contaminated water. This comes after the government has allegedly failed to meet its own deadline to have the Klipdrift Water Treatment Works fully operational.

What is happening in Hammanskraal?

Last year, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) allocated R758 million to upgrade the Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant, which has a capacity of 40 megalitres per day. The upgrade aimed to address water supply and quality challenges in Hammanskraal by constructing a package plant to supplement the existing bulk water infrastructure.

However, the government failed to meet its own deadline for making the Klipdrift Water Treatment Works fully operational. While module two was handed over in June, the plant has yet to supply clean water.

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What did the residents say?

The residents are so desperate, they are now pleading for dirty water. They say they no longer want the trucks. They say they are fed up with empty promises made to them.

They said they want the water that's coming from the taps, even if it's dirty. The residents said they were treated like pigs. The residents of Hammanskraal said they are tired. They demand the dirty water back.

What did South Africans say?

Social media users shared their opinions regarding the water situation.

@shaiveileilah said:

"As long as we don't respect ourselves, no one wiII respect us. This is disgusting and disrespectfuI."

@VinRatawu said:

"t's happening all over the country."

@tim09366004 said:

"Let’s vote for parties that will bring the death penalty straight."

@gayleviv said:

"If this is true, the people who died from cholera were murdered! I cry for our country. The things people will do because of greed."

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How does the Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant work?

According to the Department of Water & Sanitation, once all four modules are completed, the plant will contribute an additional 50 million litres of treated water to the existing 42 million litres capacity at the Klipdrift Water Treatment Works, which will be supplied to the residents of Hammanskraal.

"Each of the 4 modules is expected to add 12.5 million litres capacity of water per day, and the currently completed module will supply residents of Marokolong, Ramotse, Kekana Gardens, Kudube Unit 9 and Babelegi Industria, as well as parts of Mandela Village, and Bridgeview informal settlement."

Johannesburg’s water crisis worsens

In a previous article, Briefly News reported that the City of Johannesburg's (CoJ) water issues continue to worsen, with many residents unsure of whether they will continue to receive the precious resource.

Residents have been plagued by an erratic supply and constant water cuts, with CoJ's promises often failing to materialise.

Source: Briefly News