After years of asking questions about the City contract for the installation and maintenance of Aqualoc water management devices, Subcouncil 2 is yet to receive an outcome from the City’s legal department over a matter that has now been outstanding on the agenda since 2018.
At the advent of the drought this device was installed in households across the city to manage water consumption.
However due to malfunctioning it left thousands of families without water for days and even weeks at a time.
The matter was again raised with great concern at a recent subcouncil meeting, held at the chambers in Kraaifontein.
Rhynardt Bresler, ward councillor for Ward 102 in Brackenfell and Kraaifontein, demanded answers for the residents of the subcouncil.
He said too many complaints were received by residents about the Aqualocs during 2017 and 2018, and yet the matter was never resolved.
During a presentation by the City at the subcouncil in May 2018 it was revealed that between April 2017 and March 2018, a total of 3 571 service complaints were lodged in this regard in Brackenfell, Kraaifontein and Kuils River, in which 1 810 cases water supply was cut off by the devices.
According to Bresler it was also alleged by residents that contractors did not show up to fix the devices after it would malfunction.
At that time the subcouncil first requested a probe into the matter.
“Too many people were left without water due to technical issues with the devices and the question still remains, what was wrong with these devices.
“Was the product substandard and did it not come with any guarantees?
“And why did contractors not show up to fix malfunctioning meters,” Bresler asked during the recent subcouncil meeting.
“Some residents would phone three or four times and yet contractors did not go out to them as they claimed they did and complaints were simply closed and money claimed by contractors for work done when there was no proof that this work was in actual fact done,” said Bresler.
Bresler said the subcouncil demanded answers for its residents.
“We have asked these questions for years and is still asking and waiting for an outcome.
“What has now come of it? Is the City going to investigate the tender contract and is legal action going to be taken, is what we want to know at the subcouncil.”
