Reginah Mgiba told the Herald that other sections in the township receive water regularly, but they do not understand why their section do not receive water. “In January we met with Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, Mayor Merriam Malatji to inform her of our situation and asked her to use means available to her to supply us with water.

“The mayor said she will send a team of engineers to identify the problem,” she says. “According to our knowledge, they did an assessment, and it seems like it is sabotage; they found that the valves of the water pipes were blocked preventing our section from getting water,” she says. Mgiba says she does not understand the reasoning behind blocking their water.

Also read: Water shortages remain an issue in Phalaborwa

“I hope it is not politically motivated, because we are suffering. We can’t afford to pay R400 every week to fill Jojo tanks. Our toilets are filthy and without water and we are scared our kids will eventually get sick,” she adds. Patricia Mashego, a resident of Ward 7 and a crèche owner, says she buys water in order to keep her business running and it costs her a lot of money.

“Some of my learners are still toddlers in nappies and we have to bath them before they go home, the water crisis influences my business negatively,” she says. The Herald could not reach the spokesperson of BaPhalaborwa Municipality, Jonas Mahesu, for comment. Share your water challenges with the Herald by sending an email to Tintswalo Shipalana at emelda@herald.co.za.