21.09.2025
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Amathole Municipality struggles to meet water provision demands

4 mins



  • A drop of water coming out of a tap.

Amathole District Municipality Spokesperson, Sisa Msiwa, says while a long-term solution is in the pipeline, the provision of water is temporarily hampered by the huge demand in the local municipality.

“Tankers are dispatched to Mzwini, but they also cover multiple other villages in the Great Kei Municipality, which then limits the frequency of supply. At present Mzwini receives about 15,000 lts once a week, while this helps, it is also not sufficient,” says Msiwa.

He says to mitigate the gap they are reviewing tender routes considering placement of static tanks as well as working with stakeholders to strengthen the short term relief until permanent systems have been completed.

Meanwhile in the Eastern Cape, water scarcity at Mzwini village in Mooiplas just outside East London in the Eastern Cape has left residents obtaining water to drink from a nearby lake that has old diapers and other items floating in it.

They say their taps have been dry for the past 10 years and that the provision of water through water tankers has been inconsistent.

The residents have taken to social media to complain about the situation.

Resident Mbulelo Gxalu says local government is not giving them a concrete response.

“The condition is inhumane because we must share water with cattle, goats and everything else. Lucky people are the ones with water tanks in their yards. Another challenge is that the elderly, who are not able to come and fetch water hire youngsters, buy water and for a drum they pay R50,” says Gxalu.

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