An eight-hour water outage is anticipated in certain areas of Tshwane

The City of Tshwane’s Water and Sanitation Department has announced that the water supply disruption for The Reeds suburb has been rescheduled to Wednesday, 21 August.

The delay is necessary to complete a tie-in connection to the water supply network at the corner of Panorama Road and Markotter Street. The work was originally scheduled for Tuesday, 13 August.

Eight-hour water disruption expected

The department’s technicians estimate that the work will take eight hours, beginning at 8:00 and concluding by 16:00. This interruption will affect all extensions within The Reeds suburb. In anticipation of the inconvenience, the City of Tshwane has issued an apology to residents. “The city apologises for the inconvenience that may arise as a result of the mentioned work,” stated the city.

Residents are urged to conserve water during this period. The city has provided a list of water conservation measures, which include avoiding the use of hosepipes for watering gardens or washing vehicles, installing low-flow shower heads, and checking for leaks in taps and toilets. These recommendations are part of the city’s broader effort to encourage sustainable water use, especially during maintenance operations.

Community meeting in Hammanskraal

In a related development, the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Alderman Cilliers Brink, alongside other political leaders, will hold a community meeting in Hammanskraal on Saturday, 17 August. The meeting, or “imbizo,” aims to update residents on the progress of providing clean, potable water to the area. Hammanskraal has been in the spotlight following a cholera outbreak that has claimed the lives of more than 20 people in May 2023.

The imbizo will focus on key projects, including the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Plant and the Magalies Water Package Plant. These projects are crucial to delivering safe water to Hammanskraal residents, with the Magalies plant serving as an interim solution while upgrades at Rooiwal are underway.

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu and Mayor Brink conducted an oversight visit to the Rooiwal plant earlier this year to assess progress.

Progress at Rooiwal Treatment Plant

A new contractor was appointed earlier this year to resume work on the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Plant after the previous contractor abandoned the project due to a dispute with the municipality. Despite the early stage of the project, the City of Tshwane reported some progress early this year.

Deputy Director-General Risimati Mathye confirmed that the second contractor for electrical work has been appointed.

“These contractors will work parallel to ensure that this plant functions at full capacity,” Mathye stated.

Residents of Tshwane, particularly those in The Reeds and Hammanskraal, are encouraged to stay informed and engaged with the ongoing efforts to improve water infrastructure in their communities.