Residents of Mthatha continue to face severe water shortages weeks after devastating floods hit the region, despite promises from officials that services would be restored.
During a recent visit to the area, President Cyril Ramaphosa assured communities that water would be reinstated promptly. However, many in Slovo Park and surrounding areas say they have yet to see any meaningful intervention, forcing them to collect water from roadside puddles—a risky but necessary measure for drinking, cooking, and washing.
Desperation Grows as Promises Go Unfulfilled
Local residents, including elderly caregivers and young children, have resorted to gathering water from stagnant roadside streams and pools, boiling it in hopes of making it safe.
“This is our only option,” one resident said. “We were told water would be back by Friday, but nothing has changed. No water tankers have come here.”
The community claims that while a water tank was placed further away, it remains inaccessible to many, particularly the elderly and those caring for young children. Some residents have been seen doing laundry on the roadside, highlighting the dire conditions.
Officials Under Scrutiny
Authorities, including the OR Tambo District Municipality, had pledged immediate relief efforts, yet affected areas report being overlooked. Journalists on the ground noted that Slov Park was among the hardest-hit areas, where rescue teams had previously recovered flood victims—making the lack of urgent water provision even more alarming.
“If the government wanted to be taken seriously, this is where water tankers should have been deployed first,” remarked a correspondent. “Instead, people are left to fend for themselves, collecting contaminated water just to survive.”
Calls for Accountability
Questions remain over the distribution of disaster relief funds and the pace of recovery. Residents and media have pressed local officials for answers on why critical services remain delayed.
“How quickly can this municipality recover?” asked one reporter. “The trust of the people is fading.”
As the wait for clean water drags on, frustration mounts among Mthatha’s flood victims, who now question whether government promises will ever materialize.