Parched Kariega residents roam streets to hunt for water trucks after major pipe bursts

KwaNobuhle township has had acute water shortages for the past week.

Thousands of residents in wards 42 to 47 have been roaming streets looking for water trucks day in and day out, while the situation deteriorates.

Public schools, township salons, thousands of households, funeral parlours and churches have been severely affected.

On Friday morning, residents were still carrying empty buckets looking for trucks in different areas. Some were searching in nearby bushes for water leaks.

Resident Bulelwa Williams from Area 10 in ward 45 in Gunguluza said: “I had six 20 litres of buckets in my yard filled with water.” She said she gave one of these buckets to her neighbour. “I assumed that water would be back but we are now seven days without water.”

“I don’t even have water to drink. All four buckets are now empty,” she said.

She said the only place she has been drawing water from is at KwaNobuhle depot, a municipal property that never ran out of water. She takes two of her buckets and hires a vehicle to take her to and from the depot daily. She spends R30 each time. People flock to this depot, she says.

People are pushing trolleys with buckets around KwaNobuhle, Kariega to try and find sources of water. (Photo: Thamsanqa Mbovane)