Residents of Tiryville in Kariega have lacked running water for nearly two months, forcing them to walk kilometres for supplies. The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality attributes the issue to problems at the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works, while the South African Human Rights Commission has launched an investigation.
For almost two months, taps in Tiryville, a neighbourhood of RDP houses overlooking Kariega in the Nelson Mandela Bay area, have run dry. Residents like Marie Fleurs have described the hardship: “We can’t even cook properly. I can’t even remember the last time I did laundry.” She added, “It is really inhuman to live like this.” Families, including seven people in the Fleurs household, trek over 1km to areas like Lapland or nearby farms for water, hauling buckets up steep paths. Marius Fleurs noted they recycle dishwater to flush toilets. Wendolene Bekkers walks nearly a kilometre daily for her family's needs, unable to afford bought water. Joseph Majoor uses a wheelbarrow for trips to Lapland, highlighting challenges for the elderly and ill who need water for medication. Municipal water tankers rarely arrive, residents say. Instead, Gift of the Givers has provided tankers and installed 2,500-litre JoJo tanks for easier access. Ali Sablay of the organisation said residents last had water six weeks prior to their intervention. Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya explained the outages stem from reduced output at the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works due to high raw water turbidity, electricity disruptions, voltage dips and increased demand. This affects Kariega, Despatch, KwaNobuhle, Chatty and Bloemendal. An extra pump is online, with full stabilisation expected in one to two weeks, though the tanker fleet is limited. DA mayoral candidate Retief Odendaal called it a “man-made water crisis” during a visit. The South African Human Rights Commission, via Eastern Cape manager Dr Eileen Carter, is investigating, citing Section 27(1)(b) of the constitution on the right to sufficient water.