Komani Villages Face Three-Month Water Crisis

Komani – Residents in multiple villages between Komani and Whittlesea are enduring a prolonged water crisis nearly three months after a municipal pump broke down. Villages including Who Can Tell, Merino Walk, Hansome Village, and McBride Village report that running water has been unavailable since late July, forcing households to rely on unsafe sources and intermittent water deliveries.

This follows a recent Komani News report highlighting similar struggles in Merino Walk Village, where residents said water trucks could not meet the needs of hundreds of households and untreated water from rivers and springs was often the only option. The ongoing crisis shows that the problem is now affecting multiple villages, amplifying public concern over municipal service delivery. Read the previous report here.

Residents Forced to Collect Unsafe Water

A resident from Who Can Tell described the situation as “heartbreaking,” saying that the municipality had assured them a replacement part for the broken water engine had been ordered. Despite these assurances, no progress has been visible, and water trucks arrive only sporadically. “The truck comes maybe once a week or once every two weeks. It’s never enough. People are forced to fetch water from bushes and rivers, sharing it with livestock,” the resident said.

Families in Merino Walk and other affected villages face similar struggles. Residents report queuing for hours when water trucks arrive, only for supplies to run out within minutes. Many households are rationing water carefully, with children, the elderly, and women disproportionately affected by the shortage.

Health Risks Mount

Health experts warn that consuming untreated water from rivers, springs, or other natural sources carries serious risks, including diarrhoea, cholera, and typhoid. The lack of clean water has also disrupted schools, clinics, and small businesses, compounding the crisis. Residents emphasise that water is a basic human right, and the prolonged outage is a public health concern.

Safety Concerns in Remote Areas

Fetching water has become a daily struggle, particularly for women and girls who must venture into bushes or remote areas to collect supplies. “Women risk their safety going into the bush to fetch water. This is a serious concern,” said a resident from Who Can Tell. Families often transport water in buckets or wheelbarrows, sometimes sharing it with livestock or wildlife, increasing the risk of contamination and illness.

Councillor Contact Attempted, No Response

Komani News reached out to Ward Councillor M. Nonyongo for comment on the ongoing crisis. As of publication, the councillor had not responded, leaving residents frustrated and uncertain about when a permanent solution will be implemented.

Daily Life Disrupted

Residents describe their day-to-day lives as profoundly affected by the water shortage. Simple tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and maintaining hygiene have become monumental challenges. Schools struggle to operate safely, clinics face sanitation issues, and local businesses cannot function without reliable water. Many families cannot afford boreholes or private water solutions, leaving them reliant on inconsistent municipal deliveries.

Community Calls for Urgent Intervention

The affected communities are now calling on the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, the Chris Hani District Municipality, and the Eastern Cape Department of Water and Sanitation to urgently intervene. Residents insist that temporary water truck deliveries are insufficient and are demanding a permanent, long-term solution to restore reliable water supply.

“Every day without water affects our health, our safety, and our dignity. We cannot continue living like this,” said a resident from Who Can Tell. The ongoing crisis, now affecting multiple villages, highlights the broader challenges of rural service delivery in the Eastern Cape.

Linking Past and Present

This situation echoes the experiences reported in Merino Walk Village earlier this month, where residents detailed similar hardships and limited municipal response. The fact that neighbouring villages like Who Can Tell, Hansome Village, and McBride Village are now facing the same issues underscores a systemic problem with infrastructure maintenance and service delivery across Ward 20. Residents hope that media attention will draw the attention of higher authorities and accelerate repairs.

“We are not just asking for water trucks — we need a long-term solution to a problem that has lasted too long,” said one community member.

With multiple villages affected, municipal silence, and health and safety concerns mounting, residents remain determined to have their voices heard. The ongoing crisis is a stark reminder of the importance of timely municipal maintenance and accountability for essential services.