Electricity and Water Crisis in Roodekop extension 31

Water:

Roodekop ext 31, which is situated under the CoE is lacking stable and adequate water/ electricity supply. Roodekop is currently getting supplied with water 4 days a week and the water that we being supplied is mostly dirty, smells oil and foamy. The issue has been raised with the councilor and CoE with no positive results. The reason given for lack of water is that Russell Road Reservoir is being extended or reconstructed for better water availability. We were told that water supply will return back to normal end of April 2025 and is moved to end of June 2025. During the 3 days in a week of water outages, 1 or sometimes 2 water tankers are provided even though the quality of water is not suitable for human consumption, again several emails were sent to the councilor and the CoE to bring this to their attention, we were replied by silence or no action. We also raised the fact that 1 or 2 water tankers are not enough for the community of approx 700 families and suggest 3 water tankers to be supplied 1 each phase since roodekop ext 31 is consisting of 3 phases, this also was not attended to. Water supply on tankers finishes very early in the day and the community will be left dry for the remainder of the day. Water is an essential element of life for human beings and animals but the CoE doesn't seem to care about our lives. We would like our Cllr and the CoE to adress this URGENTLY!

Electricity :

Roodekop ext 31 doesn't have a stable electricity supply, this is evident when there is windy or rainy weather, the electricity will just go off! And also besides the weather conditions the electricity will go off. The calls will be logged through calling the CoE customer care center or the MyCoE app. To get the energy department to respond to the logged calls is a struggle. Mostly the calls will be closed without being attended to. An example is the low/high electricity voltage that happened on the 19th of June 2025 where Langa and Bophelong streets were mostly affected. The calls were logged on the same day of the incident, today is the 26th of June @22h47 electricity is still not resolved or restore. When following up with the MMC office and the councilor we are told that they will do the audit of whether the residents do purchase electricity first before being restored. We reminded the councilor that phase 3 where Langa and Bophelong is part of, the meter project which was done recently to replace old meter boxes to new devices, the contractor did not complete the project because of non payment from the CoE, so what are they auditing if they know that they were the cause of the project not completed to the whole community? Why they wait for electricity outage to raise the issue of audit? The issue of non completion of the meter project was communicated to the community via our councilor Samantha Nair. So why is it now a community problem?

Recommendation :

1. We the community of Roodekop ext 31 we demand that the electricity be restored to all affected areas with relevant reference numbers received from calls logged with immediate effect. 

2. The meter project be resumed and completed. 

3. Then the audit process can take place.

4. Stabilize electricity supply

5. Restore full water supply at the end June 2025

Conclusion :

1. We the residents of Roodekop ext 31 we would like the Public Protector Office and Premier's office to intervene to our situation in order to get the lasting solutions to our issues and challenges because the CoE doesn't seem to be willing to play their role which is providing essential services to Roodekop ext 31. 

Roodekop ext 31 Steering Committee    Contact the author of the petition