Download PDFCommunities of the Rand West (West Rand) greater Randfontein have been struggling with water for the past few weeks starting around mid-May 2023. The flow of water has been poor during this period. Schools and clinics have been operating as usual despite the problem with water availability in the communities.
The situation poses health hazards at the clinics because water is needed to flush toilets, especially with the recent outbreak of cholera and Covid-19 cases rising Again. Sometimes people are unable to wash their hands to protect themselves from these diseases.
Water shedding lasts for days at a time and when the water returns it is brown and undrinkable. We must use alternatives like boiling the water and pouring a little bit of bleach to purify the water, at a ratio of a teaspoon to every 20 litres. This is expensive for working class people amidst rising electricity prices.
Children get sick at school with running stomachs complaining about stomach cramps and pain in their abdomens. The clinics become full during the day with parents bringing their children to get help with the stomach problems they have. The clinic itself does not have water to use.
This article was submitted on 10 June 2023. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
