Zuma responds to J’Bay water plea

Cindy Liebenberg

The Herald Online, 7 March 2012

JEFFREYS Bay’s water woes may soon be something of the past as President Jacob Zuma’s men are now demanding answers from the Kouga council following a desperate e-mail sent to Zuma by resident Magda Pietersen.

Although Pietersen says she has not had any response from Zuma, despite sending a follow-up e-mail, ward councillor David Aldendorff believes the president’s office became involved because of her e-mails.

"I do think that Pietersen’s e-mails, combined with the publicity and prominence they generated, were the direct reason for the president stepping in,” he said.

Aldendorff confirmed that mayor Booi Koerat had mentioned the call from Zuma’s office during the council meeting last week. A prominent source in the municipality, who did not want to be named, said the call came on March 2 and the president’s office demanded that an explanation and full report be sent to them.

Aldendorff expressed joy that at last something was being done to solve the town’s water problems. "J-Bay’s infrastructure is very old and needs to be upgraded. People cannot be expected to keep on living with what the municipality terms water fit for human consumption, but which smells and looks disgusting, and stains washing,” he said.

Pietersen took her plight to Zuma after she was yet again faced with stained washing, and was unable to get any joy from the municipality.

Pietersen manages a sports club and is responsible for the washing of its white tablecloths. "I sent the president an e-mail on February 5 and again on the 27th, so I will be overjoyed if he can find a solution,” she said.

Sewerage is another headache for the coastal town, which has in the past lost its Blue Flag status as a direct result of raw sewage spilling onto the beach.

Residents have complained endlessly about continual spills onto surf spots and residential roads. This problem could soon be solved as the Kouga council last week approved the registration of Phase 2 of the upgrading of the Jeffreys Bay waste water works as a municipal infrastructure grant project, meaning Local Government Department funding can be applied for.