Lentswe, Klerksdorp - Residents of the Matlosana Gardens complex have been suffering without water and when there is water, the water pressure is very low. This problem persists for most of the year.
At the time of going to print, Joshua Nemagovhani, facility manager: Instratin Realty, the property manager, insisted the issue has been resolved and that the municipality fixed it.
The DA, however, is adamant that it hasn’t been fixed after they had a meeting with residents earlier this week.
Who is at fault while the residents are suffering?
According to the DA, Instratin accepted responsibility for the problem, which Nemagovhani now denies. He blames the municipality for the water problem at the complex.
The DA called on Instratin to address the severe water pressure and flow issues that have plagued residents of Matlosana Gardens since November 2023.
“These problems have worsened significantly since July this year, leaving residents without a reliable water supply,” said Ward 39 councillor, Inge Wilken.
According to her, the system installed is not strong enough to feed water to everybody in the residential complex. Currently there are more than 3 000 tenants.
In a statement by the DA this week it was disclosed that Cllr Wilken, Cllr Johannes le Grange, raised these concerns with representatives from Instratin.
“While Instratin assured us they are investigating the problem, their response has been inadequate and delayed. The water shortages have reached crisis levels, affecting basic living conditions and even the preschool, where 64 young learners struggle with limited hygiene access.”
According to Cllr Wilken, she visited the complex on October 30 and witnessed residents filling water containers at the main entrance to carry back to their homes. She said Instratin has since deployed a service provider to address the issue, installing pressure pumps on the property.
“However, these efforts are far too late for many residents, who are left frustrated and disillusioned by empty promises. On November 6, during a follow-up visit, the management team reported some progress, with water issues reduced from 70% to 7%.
However, consistent water pressure remains a problem for units farthest from the main supply, particularly during peak hours.”
