Communities in areas from Port Edward to Hibberdene and inland to Harding have been struggling without the precious resource for days, due to the sabotage of water infrastructure.

Resident, Samantha Botha is one of the Ugu Mass Lawsuit petitioners.

She says they want to get the Public Protector and South African Human Rights Commission involved.

"We are also aiming at laying criminal charges. All the petitioners at the moment will receive uploaded forms to fill in affidavits, which we then will collect at different points to lay 3000 criminal charges," she says.

Botha says they're trying to get as many people as possible to sign their petition.

"We are aiming for 7000 people who are willing to commit around R100 each towards a mass law suit against Ugu because ultimately Ugu is responsible. There's no real action being taken," she says.

In an interview with the South Coast Herald, municipal manager DD Naidoo said they were unable to send contractors to some areas to restore supply as they were being intimidated and threatened by the striking workers.

Naidoo says a provincial task team of MECs has been established to intervene.

For more on this and other developing stories, here's your latest Newswatch bulletin.

Source: East Coast Radio