Eight families in Brooklyn are kwaad with their landlord after they went without water for nearly a week because he did not pay the water bill.
Residents living in the Galaxidon building on Koeberg Road say they got a skrik when they woke up to dry taps last Friday and immediately contacted their landlord.
They say he told them the water was cut because of a new meter that had been installed, but when they contacted the council, they learnt the owner had failed to pay his water bill.
A desperate Antoinette Kinshella, who has been living there for more than 10 years, contacted the Daily Voice on Tuesday, saying: “I pay my rent every month and the owner is just pocketing the money, doing absolutely nothing to uphold the heritage of this old building.
“We have been without water for five days and there is no communication from the owner. We phoned the council and no answers. We need help desperately.”
Residents had to skarrel for water
When the Daily Voice visited the building on Tuesday, residents returning from work could be seen walking with empty water bottles to neighbouring houses.
“We must skarrel now, we’re going to ask the neighbours for some water,” a woman said.
A 66-year-old ouma, who asked not to be named, said they thought Day Zero was cancelled for 2018, but have now learnt what it is like to be without water.
“Ons het gedink Day Zero is gecancel. We phoned the owner and he said a new meter had been put in, but other residents contacted the City and they said he didn’t pay his bills,” she says.
“I mean it is not right, there are children living here and we had to beg for water.”
Resident Wayne Hofstander says they have been sukkeling to keep clean and he spent the whole weekend driving around to get water.
“There are children who must go to school and there is no water. We can’t even use our toilets,” he complained.
Mayco Member for Finance, Johan van der Merwe, on Wednesday confirmed: “The water has been disconnected due to non-payment and the supply will be reconnected once the account is settled or a payment arrangement is made on the account.”
On Wednesday, Antoinette said the water supply was reconnected but they have still not received any communication from the owner.
“This is the second time the water is cut and I am now gatvol,” she said.
The landlord did not respond to calls or text messages from the Daily Voice.