Note to editors: Please find attached the English soundbite by Cllr Irene Rugheimer.
The water department and City officials recently held a meeting with concerned Clarens residents to address the upcoming Lesotho Highlands water shutdown scheduled for October. Residents expressed significant concern over potential water shortages during the shutdown period. Please see pictures here, here and here.
Officials assured residents that plans are already in motion to mitigate the impact of the shutdown by sinking boreholes to supply water. However, no detailed business plan was presented during the meeting, and city officials were unable to provide comprehensive answers to all questions, citing that they were not the professionals directly involved in the project.
In response to residents’ requests, officials committed to holding a follow-up meeting once the contract is awarded to present the detailed plan and timelines for the project. This proactive approach aims to keep residents informed and engaged throughout the process.
Although Dihlabeng officials have been aware of the shutdown for some time, they only recently presented a business plan to obtain funding for the project, highlighting a pattern of last-minute actions. The ANC-run Dihlabeng Local Municipality, like many others, has shown that planning is not always a priority.
With dams already experiencing low water levels due to lack of rain this season, and little rain predicted for next summer, residents’ concerns are legitimate. While officials emphasised that filling the Townsend Dam is a priority, they were unable to provide specific timelines for this action.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has pledged to continue monitoring the situation closely and to keep residents updated with any new information as it becomes available. The DA’s commitment to transparency and accountability ensures that residents’ voices are heard and their concerns addressed.