Local village’s water problems continues
The residents rely on a local river for water, they are running the risks of being raped as the river is a haven for criminals.
GA MASHAMOTHANE – Zone 7 residents have lost hope in their quest to access clean water; they say they never had the privilege of enjoying running tap water.
The residents held an imbiso, on Tuesday October 29 where they vented their frustrations and looked at ways to remedy the situation.
“Year after year we are promised water, but here we are, thirsty. Since the dawn of democracy we never accessed a single drop of water from the taps,” said angry gogo Emily Tebele.
The locals said they sent delegates to the municipality on numerous occasions but their visits were fruitless. “At first we were promised a dam and now we are instructed to forward our concerns to the Sekhukhune District Municipality,” they complained.
The residents rely on the filthy and dangerous Moopetsi River for water. They are forced to share the river with livestock. The poor locals also do their laundry in the same river.
They say Moopetsi is reputed to be a haven for criminals and they ran the risks of being abducted and raped. This newspaper visited the river and witnessed an illegal dumping site overflowing into the river.
The locals added that they were gambling with their lives as they might contract deadly diseases like cholera typhoid, malaria, and bilharzia.
Ms Maureen Madonsela told our reporter, “We wish that the municipality will come to our rescue.
“We have been experiencing these problems for years. When I was growing up my family used this river for water. I thought our lives would change when South Africa became a democratic country but we are still facing the same problems. It hurts not to have water,” she said.
The group also threatened not to vote in the upcoming elections, if the government did not come to their rescue. Steelburger/Lydenburg News was unable to get a comment from Sekhukhune District Municipality spokesman Mr Willie Mosoma before going to print. His phone remained unanswered.
