LIMPOPO – Mopani District Municipality (MDM) has confirmed that it will investigate and address water leakages in two villages following concerns raised by DA Councillor Rodney Tito Mavundza.

The leaks, which have been ongoing for months, have sparked frustration among residents, who accuse the municipality of neglecting critical infrastructure while water continues to be wasted.

Leaks in 2 locations

The first complaint concerns a water leak at Siyandhani village, next to Tsakani Lodge, while the second relates to a leak near Shimati Garage, adjacent to the new Greater Giyani Market stalls.

Residents have expressed outrage that both leaks have persisted for a considerable period without any response from the municipality.

Sharon Rikhotso, a resident of Siyandhani, voiced her frustration over the situation.

“The next thing they would close the water and tell us that there is no water while they let it run wasted like this,” she lamented, echoing the sentiments of many community members who endure dry taps while water flows unused from burst pipes.

MDM: ‘We were not aware’

Responding to the complaints, MDM spokesperson Mildred Risaba acknowledged that the municipality was not previously aware of the leakages but has since dispatched teams to assess the situation.

“We checked both leaks today. We were not aware of either of them. The one next to the Shimati Garage will be attended to before Tuesday. The one at Siyandhani we still have to investigate, since it is not clear where the source of this leak is. The team will start investigating on Monday,” Risaba said.

DA: Only 3% budget for repairs

Meanwhile, Mavundza has pledged to escalate the matter further. He confirmed that the DA would write to municipal manager Tshepo Mogano to prioritise repairs to the leaking pipes in Siyandhani, given that the leak has been ongoing for months without being attended to.

Mavundza raised serious concerns about the municipality’s spending priorities, revealing that MDM and Greater Giyani Municipality “allocate only 3% of their budget to repairs and maintenance of infrastructure”.

This figure is well below the recommended norm of 8% and severely compromises access to water for residents.

“Thousands of litres of water for consumption are lost every day due to lack of repairs while residents of Giyani endure dry taps for months on end,” Mavundza said.

Residents forced to buy water

He further highlighted the financial burden placed on desperate residents, whom he said “are forced to purchase water at R5 per 25-litre drum”.

Mavundza said the situation underscores the urgent need for infrastructure investment and maintenance in the district.

While MDM has promised swift action on the identified leaks, residents will be watching closely to ensure that these promises translate into tangible solutions.