Appiesdoring a neglected village

APIESDOORN – Residents still do not believe they are part of a democratic government as they cited service delivery is a major concern.

Speaking to Steelburger/Lydenburg News the locals said they were still getting their drinking water from dirty rivers and muddy wells. They claimed that at times the well became dry and they were forced to wait for the arrival of a small quantity of water to carry home.

The river is situated next to an illegal dumping site which is always filled with rubbish. What makes this worse is the fact that they share the water with animals.

“It’s hard to believe that after more than 19 years of democracy, we still don’t have water. It hurts us to see politicians boast about democracy in the media but they still neglect their people. Last week the government celebrated water week in style but to us this meant nothing, as we still wish for that single clean drop of water, said local resident, Ms Mooki Mmopane.

According to the locals, there is nothing the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) can claim they have done for the people of Apiesdoring.

“There is no electricity, no water, no roads, no RDP houses, we are the poorest and not as developed as other places in the Sekhukhune district,” they claimed.

Steelburger/Lydenburg News tried to get a comment from Sekhukhune District Municipality’s spokesman, Mr Willy Mosoma but the attempts were fruitless.

GTM spokesman Mr Thabiso Mokoena said Apiesdoring is a state farm and the municipality tried on numerous occasions to interact with its residents in bringing developmentbut to no avail.

“We tried to have meetings with them previously but there was no agreement, we aim to provide services to every community in Tubatse, we cannot sideline our people,” he said.

The village comprise of 80 per cent mud houses, there is no single RDP house in the area.