The Kimberley Prospector

NORTHERN CAPE – The Kimberley community is once again facing water uncertainty as the Sol Plaatje Municipality temporarily turned off pumps at the Newton Reservoir due to an overwhelming demand that exceeded supply. Chris Whittaker, Sol Plaatje Ward Councilor, delivered the news at 13:30 today, less than 24 hours after the water was restored following a 3-day water interruption to fix 2 major leaks on the main bulk line from Riverton.

Newton Reservoir “Empty”

The decision to temporarily shut down the pumps was made without prior notice to residents, raising concerns about transparency and communication from the municipality. The municipality justified the move, stating that the empty dams automatically prompted the shutdown at Newton Reservoir to extensive demand after the supply was restored.

Despite the interruptions and the “significant strides” in water assurance from the municipality, the Newton Reservoir continue to struggle to keep up with demand. While only 3 of the dams are being utilized with a 4th remaining completely “dysfunctional”.

Nightly Water Interruption to Continue

In an update through unofficial channels, the municipality communicated that the nightly interruptions, from 21:00 to 04:00, will persist as the municipality sits on its hands and waits for the dams to reach the desired dam levels. The Kimberley Prospector questioned Whittaker on whether this was a new nightly interruption or a continuation of the ongoing nightly shutdown, as there was no official communication regarding its status before or after the emergency repairs however both information from Whittaker and the municipality indicates that the nightly interruptions were lifted at some point without notice being conveyed to residents.

However as far as the opinions expressed by many residents and the fact that the water was interrupted in less than 24 hours after its restoration suggest otherwise.

Access Denied at Newton Reservoir

Councillors Chris Whittaker and Ockert Fourie were allegedly denied access to Newton Reservoir on Wednesday, 22 November, to check on the dam levels during an oversight inspection. The refusal sparked questions about the municipality’s transparency and the legality of denying entry to municipal officials conducting an oversight visit.

Legal Ground for Refusal

Municipal officials can only block access under certain circumstances, such as safety concerns, security reasons, operational interference, or unauthorized access. However, these restrictions must be reasonable, lawful, and adhere to procedural fairness.

However, none of the prescribed legal reasons seem plausible. Firstly, a resident reported in a community WhatsApp group, that some of the gates to the facility are routinely left open and are unguarded, thus they are of the opinion that any authorized persons even with nevarious intent could easily gain access to the entirety of the complex.

Secondly, there are no abnormal safety risks or the possibility of interruption of operations for councillors to check on the water level makers at the dams.

The only remaining reasons are political and would constitute unlawful conduct.

Investigation Pending?

The alleged conduct of municipal officials denying entry to councillors doing oversight inspection must taken seriously and should be investigated and if found unlawful, swift disciplinary action is warranted. The Kimberley Prospector reached out to the Sol Plaatje Municipality for comment, but clarity on whether an official complaint was lodged by the councillor(s) or whether the municipality intended to investigate was deferred to Monday.

Irresponsible Water Usage Blamed For New Interruption

In a curious turn of events, an SPM ward councillor pointed fingers at “irresponsible” residents watering their lawns and, washing their vehicles so soon after the water supply to Newton Reservoir was restored. The councillor’s sentiment in response to irresponsible water usage, particularly for irrigation during the “water crisis.” Scepticism remains on whether such residents’ actions genuinely triggered the interruption or if any tangible improvements in the flow rate from Riverton were achieved during the emergency repairs to ease the strain on the Newton Reservoir. This situation has left residents grappling with more uncertainty than clarity.

Worryingly the critical dam levels at the Newton Reservoir were not conveyed to the public at any time during the repair or at the time of the restoration of the water supply. Nor did the municipality warn residents to use water sparingly to warn those “irresponsible” residents with their 10 000L JoJo tanks and swimming pools as if they would listen anyway.

The Kimberley Prospector continues to urge councillors to formally propose the installation of digital water level monitoring systems at Newton Reservoir. This initiative aims to grant residents public access to live readings, empowering them with real-time information on the reservoir’s status. With this transparency, residents could gauge their water consumption impact instantly, potentially averting the dire scenario of the dam reaching complete depletion.

Water Access for Residents Entangled in Political Turmoil

In a frustrating tale of water supply uncertainty, Kimberley residents find themselves entangled in a political cat-and-mouse game with critical questions lingering in the air. The community remains shrouded in uncertainty, left to grapple with nightly water interruptions layered on top of daily disruptions, all against the backdrop of political finger-pointing that perpetuates inaction. With pressing issues at hand and persistent failure of basic service delivery, residents are caught in the crossfire of a complex and opaque political narrative in a battle for access to this essential resource.

#VoteLikeABok

As political dynamics play out, the struggles of Kimberley residents persist. The call for informed voting in the 2024 General Elections is emphasized, urging citizens to #VoteLikeABok. Get informed on Vote.za.net.

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