DA slams Knysna mayor over management of water crisis

Update

KNYSNA NEWS - The DA has demanded that Knysna Mayor Thando Matika urgently fast-track the restoration of water to Rheenendal, which has been without water for several days.

The DA constituency head for Knysna, Ryan Smith, said in a statement that communities are rightfully angry about the water situation.

Smith condemned Matika and the ANC/EFF/PA/PBI coalition for its paralysis on the current water crisis, which has left several parts of the town without water for more than 48 hours.

He said residents have engaged in protest action in Rheenendal and at Nekkies on the N2, as the municipality has provided little to no answers.

'Government negligence'
It is alleged that mayco member for Infrastructure services, Beauty Charlie of the PA, has been attending to party political work in Gqeberha, instead of working to restore services on the ground in Knysna.

"This is the height of governance negligence and the lack of political will to fix Knysna's crumbling infrastructure," said Smith.

"Knysna needs a government that will adequately plan to overhaul and expand Knysna's water provision and wastewater treatment infrastructure as a key priority in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the entire municipality."

Actions needed
He called on Matika to:

Provide a clear timeline for the restoration of water supply to residents in the short term
Conduct an urgent infrastructure audit of the municipality
Urgently reprioritise all non-essential spending to divert funds to water infrastructure renewal
Explore alternatives to fund water infrastructure projects by means of municipal infrastructure grants, public-private partnerships, and the implementation of best-practice methods from local municipalities such as DA-run Mossel Bay and Stellenbosch
Devise an infrastructure maintenance plan to ensure that key nodes, pump sites, reservoirs and pipes are regularly maintained and expanded for infrastructure integrity and longevity.

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