Community protests in some parts of the Northern Cape are delaying the construction of stands for the installation of water tanks.
Kobus Streuders, acting provincial head of the Department of Water and Sanitation, says community members are demanding standpipes, rather than plastic tanks.
He says since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown on 27 March the Department in the province has distributed 884 water tanks for water supply.
The department also distributed 15 284 units of hand sanitiser, 2 380 face masks and 65 000 latex gloves to vulnerable communities within medium and high residential densities, including informal settlements.
He adds that the delivery of these services was, however, not without its own challenges.
Of the 884 tanks delivered, 585 are permanently installed, 778 are in use and 193 are temporarily installed.
“Community protests in some areas are hampering and delaying the construction of stands as communities are demanding standpipes,” Streuders explains.
He says another factor slowing down the process is the vastness of the Northern Cape and the remoteness of the settlements.
“Some contractors are not willing to transport building material to areas far away.”
