• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us

For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home South Africa

No end in sight to two-decade long Hammanskraal water crisis

29 August 2021, 9:36 AM  |
Patricia Visagie Patricia Visagie |  @SABCNews
A tap with a droplet of water.

A tap with a droplet of water.

Image: Reuters

A tap with a droplet of water.

Close to two decades since the water crisis started in Hammanskraal north of Pretoria and there is still no resolution.

Residents now say they fear for their lives.

The frustrated communities in the area say they are on the brink of a serious health crisis, while some are left traumatised by human faeces found in their tap water.

Startling testimonies

“You can boil faeces all you like, you can’t get rid of it, it’s faeces,” a startling testimony from Lungi Thobejane.

Even when boiled, the water remains toxic.

To protect her health, Thobejane bought a water purifying machine.

“We become angry and then we can’t express ourselves the way we are so angry because of this thing of water. It’s not the first time, and it’s been a long time that we are crying about the water but there’s nothing that’s happening,” says Thobejane.

Health crisis

Another resident Thabo Mashilo says, “The water we are drinking is dirty and people are getting sick. People are experiencing diarrhoea and remember we have kids here in the village, they are also sick.”

Another resident, Engineer Nelly Sebopa, who has studied the water quality intensely, paints a traumatising picture.

“We have water that is coming out of the taps that’s contaminated with human faeces. That is unacceptable in any language anywhere. You don’t need scientific proof that water is dirty when it’s contaminated with faeces. What happens is that sometimes it’s so contaminated, it’s visible sometimes it’s a bit clearer, but all in all the water is not fit for human consumption.”

The local tribal authority, inundated with complaints, has appealed to government and private business to urgently assist in resolving the matter.

City of Tshwane under criticism

The water crisis stems close to two decades and the City of Tshwane has been under heavy criticism for dragging its feet in resolving the problem.

 

Hammanskraal water that is expected to be consumed by residents. Shocking!@SABCNews@Newzroom405 @PresidencyZA @GautengProvince @CityTshwane pic.twitter.com/X6kZt03AJt

— andrew sithole (@blessed_dru) August 24, 2021

 

This is tap water in Hammanskraal in 2021.This govt can to better pic.twitter.com/S4fpmusMKD

— Jdee Tladi Lesojane (@lekotajt) August 25, 2021

The City acknowledged that the biggest challenge is at the Rooiwal Waste Water treatment plant.

Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams says phase one of the upgrade process is currently underway.

“The failure is at Rooiwal. So far, we have refurbished Rooiwal at 54%. We need to have Rooiwal up to a 100%  then the type of water that Rooiwal will push through to Themba will then guarantee portable water.”

However, for this desperate community, the feedback by the Tshwane Mayor is rhetoric echoed by all politicians who have led the Tshwane Municipality since the dawn of democracy.

As the water crisis continue to strip the dignity of the community, there is little faith that politicians will solve the problem.

Earlier this month, ActionSA tabled a damning report on the water crisis in Hammanskraal.

The report found that the water can cause deadly diseases like cancer and has a severe impact on people’s nervous system, due to toxic iron and copper levels, as outlined in the video below:

 

 

Share article
Tags: HammanskraalCity Of TshwaneWater CrisisTshaneRendall WIlliams
Previous Post

Australia’s COVID-19 cases hit new record as ‘reopening’ debate heats up

Next Post

VIDEO: Basic Education media briefing on COVID-19 impact on schooling

Related Posts

Sipho Mkhatshwa has maintained that he was not in Mbombela when Hilary Gardee went missing and murdered. Mkhatshwa's fiance told the court that Mkhatshwa's arrest had a huge impact on the family and their finance.

Lawyer representing two accused in Gardee murder plans to subpoena Mpumalanga police

18 August 2022, 1:19 PM
File image depicting handcuffs and police line.

[WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT]: Two men burnt to death, one arrested following attempted kidnapping in Limpopo

18 August 2022, 12:30 PM
A SASSA card.

More people to qualify for the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant

18 August 2022, 11:43 AM
SABC building in Auckland Park.

Parly’s Communications Committee hopes to appoint new SABC Board ‘within time’

18 August 2022, 11:28 AM
File Image: Eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk.

State to continue cross-examination of accused in Tazne van Wyk trial

18 August 2022, 10:02 AM
[File Image] A woman protests in front of the Bangladesh parliament building over rising incidents of rape in the country.

Krugersdorp gang-rape survivor feels forgotten

18 August 2022, 9:42 AM
Next Post

VIDEO: Basic Education media briefing on COVID-19 impact on schooling

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • EMS says fire at Bree Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg has been extinguished
  • The public has until 18 May to make submissions on Icasa’s regulations for extension of expiry period for data, airtime
  • ANC NEC expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday
  • Eastern Cape flood victims plead for support as access to food, services remains difficult
  • Amathole Regional Secretary elated to have corruption charges against him dropped
  • Pick n Pay launches new supermarket brand
  • Elon Musk says he is buying Manchester United
  • Public has two weeks to make comments on proposed changes to pension funds
  • Home Affairs tightens rules on passport application to curb corruption
  • 14-year-old Eastern Cape learner facing arm amputation after allegedly taking COVID-19 vaccine
  • Home Affairs clamps down on passport fraud and introduces transit visas
  • Mogalakwena Municipality in Limpopo directed to terminate appointment of more than 400 workers
  • Pick n Pay launches new supermarket brand
  • Elon Musk says he is buying Manchester United
  • Public has two weeks to make comments on proposed changes to pension funds

LATEST

South African currency
  • Business

Number of properties in Tshwane and Johannesburg municipal debts exceed their value


Delegates at the SADC Summit in DRC
  • Africa

President Ramaphosa says SADC meeting in DRC was successful


A soccer ball inside a goal net
  • Sport

Chiefs eager to catch up with early pacesetters before it’s too late


FILE PHOTO: Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos applauds as he attends the inauguration of the new Luanda Bay Marginal in the capital Luanda August 28, 2012.
  • Africa

Spain allows Angolan ex-leader’s body to be repatriated after ruling out foul play


The tournaments official logo seen on a wall, 31 March, 2022
  • Sport

FIFA sells 2.45 million tickets for Qatar World Cup


ANC Chairperson of the Electoral Committee, Kgalema Motlanthe briefing the media at Luthuli House, August 18, 2022.
  • Politics

Vote buying and bribing will not be accepted ahead of ANC National Elective Conference: Motlanthe


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Australia’s COVID-19 cases hit new record as ‘reopening’ debate heats up
Next VIDEO: Basic Education media briefing on COVID-19 impact on schooling