The Emfuleni Municipality’s failure to honour its payment arrangement with Rand Water has left residents high and dry amid a heatwave in Gauteng.

Sowetan Live on Monday reported that water supply was reduced to some areas in the municipality after it did not meet Friday’s deadline to pay approximately 25% of its two-year historical debt of over R450 million to Rand Water.

According to Emfuleni mayoral spokesperson Lebo Mofokeng, water tankers were dispatched to affected areas where approximately 250 households were affected by the 40% water restriction.

Areas hardest hit by the water restrictions include Palm Spring‚ Sharpeville‚ Tshepong‚ Evaton‚ Vaal Oewer‚ Vanderbijlpark and Debonair Park.

Increased health and sanitation woes

EWN on Monday reported that residents in affected areas are pleading with officials to resolve the situation because the water restrictions are creating health concerns with residents unable to flush and clean their toilets.

A Vereeniging resident told EWN that her home is now filled with flies because she cannot clean or flush her toilet because of the water cuts which is affecting the health of her family, “Some of the children are having diarrhoea now because of those flies,” she said.

Meanwhile the municipality is meeting with officials to try and restore water as soon as possible.