Soshanguve, Tshwane – Residents in parts of Soshanguve are still grappling with dry taps nearly a week after a burst asbestos pipe disrupted water supply. While the City of Tshwane has restored water to many areas, extensions such as 13 and 14 remain severely affected, forcing residents to walk long distances in search of water.
Residents Struggle Amid Water Shortages
Frustrated locals report that the water tankers dispatched by the municipality are insufficient to meet demand. “We’ve been struggling in Extension 14—we have to fetch water from neighboring areas because there are very few collection points,” one resident said. “Even when the trucks come, it’s not guaranteed they’ll arrive every day, and there’s no proper communication from the city.”
Many complain that the current relief efforts are inadequate. “The trucks are not enough because we are many here,” another resident added. The prolonged outage has disrupted daily life, with some households going without water for an entire week.
City Responds to Ongoing Repairs
The MMC for Utilities in the City of Tshwane acknowledged the challenges, stating that a leak was detected on a recently repaired section of the pipeline. “The region is making plans to fix it again,” he said. While some areas have seen water return, others remain dry, leaving residents frustrated.
Calls for Long-Term Solutions
As the city works to resolve the immediate crisis, there are growing calls for infrastructure upgrades to prevent future breakdowns. Residents and officials alike recognize that aging pipes and insufficient maintenance contribute to recurring water outages.
For now, Soshanguve’s affected communities continue to wait, hoping for a swift resolution while enduring the daily burden of water scarcity.
