By Dedi Esbon
October 14,2024
Juba residents have expressed frustration over water shortage following a go slow by suppliers, urging the government to address the issue.
This comes barely a month after Johnson Swaka, Juba city mayor, issued a new directive ordering water suppliers to lower prices from 5,000 South Sudan pounds to 2,500 per barrel.
However, in spite of this directive, many water suppliers have been hesitant to comply citing the high cost of fuel. Since last week, most of them parked their trucks leaving residents to scramble at a few water stations in the residential areas.
Roda Sunday, a resident of Munuki block B, told Classic FM that she has to wait for hours to get water from a few suppliers who are still charging SSP 5,000 per barrel.
Sunday believes that the directive from the Juba city mayor has contributed to the scarcity of suppliers in the city.
“We usually get our water from the water tankers. But the problem is that people wait until noon. So, I really don’t know what exactly is the problem of the water suppliers. We heard some time back that they were told to reduce their prices to SSP2,500. This might be the challenge,” said Sunday.
According to Sunday even though many people are opting to fetch water from distribution stations as the only alternative, still they have to queue for hours to fill their jerry cans.
She says a 20-liter Jerrycan is charged SSP 100, which is much cheaper compared to the prices charged by water tankers.
She however said the water stations are not enough for the residents of Juba especially those in suburbs such as Gurei, Lemon Gaba, Newsite, and Gumbo Sherikat.
“Currently, anyone far from the water taps is facing serious challenges. In the water selling points, a 20-liter jerry can of water is sold at SSP100 and a barrel is SSP 1,500,” she added.
Her sentiments were echoed by Linda Pita, another resident of Gudele Block 9, who revealed that lack of the water tankers has made her to rely on the water distribution points.
“Getting water from our area is a big problem. At the moment we’re getting water from the taps but the problem is that there are so many people. At times the water we get from the tap is not enough for cooking and bathing. Sometimes we queue until 12 noon. Then again in the evening. But the worst thing is that this water is not even enough for domestic use,” Pitia sadly explained.
This is not the first time the issue concerning the high prices of water has been raised by both the citizens and law-makers.
In September, the transitional National legislative assembly summoned all the relevant institutions concerning water supply including the South Sudan urban water corporation, ministry of Water resources and Irrigation, governor of Central Equatoria State Augustino Jadallah Wani and the mayor of Juba City Council.