Residents from Komani in the Eastern Cape say they have been struggling to access clean water since November last year.

Community leader Solomzi Nkwentsha claims that the water shortage is intentionally caused and the municipality is providing contaminated water.

Nkwentsha say this has led to residents falling sick.

“We see it as a man-made project or crisis the reason why if this thing is a disaster why is it not declared so. The only thing we saw are the trucks carrying green tanks running up and down in the location, dishing out water to the community and that is a danger to our health because so many people have went to hospital and doctors complaining about vomiting and diarrhea.”

The Mayoral Committee member for Water Services in the Enoch Mgijima Municipality, Bongeka Nobuntu, refutes the allegations and maintains that the water quality is regularly tested.

“We refute claims that water distributed with water tankers is unsafe for human consumption, as our water is treated and tested every 2 hours. We are assuring the communities of the quality of the water provided by the water trucks, as the water provided to the communities is from the purified municipal sources, which is Ikomani and Tsomo treatment works. As the municipality we are also committed to ensure a sustainable water service provision in the area.”