Spekboom water crisis: Minister now intervene
LYDENBURG - Several promises have been made to members of the Spekboom community, Ward 13, to help them with water and sanitation.
The 150 families that live there have had to survive with only two tanks to provide them with water. The community uses gravity pipes to pump water from the nearby river to their homes.
Spekboom residents informed Sonja Boshoff, DA member of parliament, about the water crisis. Boshoff directed their complaint to minister Lindiwe Sisulu of the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation. The minister confirmed that 25 new boreholes are being drilled in the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM) area. This includes Spekboom. The municipality also informed the minister that it is sending water trucks to the community at a regular intervals.
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The tanks are provided by the department. The Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlements is also planning to drill an additional 34 boreholes. The approved municipal infrastructure grant encompasses the Mashishing Water Supply Scheme, refurbishment of sanitation infrastructure, refurbishment of water treatment works and the new boreholes.
“This is a welcome new undertaking from TCLM and we are thankful for all the companies and government organisations that played a part in the new water supply project,” said Etli van der Merwe, Lydenburg/ Mashishing Business Chamber chairperson.
The Bultkop community, near Kwêna Dam, has also been suffering without water for years. A 94-year-old grandmother has to walk to a nearby river every day. A resident of Bultkop, Justice Thobejane, informed Steelburger/ Lydenburg News two weeks ago that water trucks from TCLM do not reach them frequently. He was concerned about the elderly and children being without water as the river is polluted and is not always fit for human consumption.
However, the TCLM water trucks are used in Lydenburg, Graskop and Sabie. It is a vast area to cover and the trucks are dispatched daily. The new boreholes, directed by Sisilu, will help communities like Spekboom and Bultkop, to name but a few. “This is a welcome new undertaking from TCLM and we are thankful for all the companies and government organisations that played a part in the new water supply project,” said Etli van der Merwe, Lydenburg/ Mashishing Business Chamber chairperson. The Bultkop community, near the Kwêna Dam, has also been suffering without water for years. A 94-year-old grandmother has to walk to a nearby river every day when her family is working.
A resident of Bultkop, Justice Thobejane, informed the Steelburger/ Lydenburg News two weeks ago that water trucks from TCLM doesn’t reach them frequently. He was concerned about the elderly and children being without water as the river have a lot of pollution and it is not always fit for human consumption. However, the TCLM water trucks are used in Lydenburg, Graskop and Sabie. It is a vast area to cover and the trucks are dispatched daily.
The new boreholes, directed by Minister Lindiwe Sisilu, will help communities like Spekboom and Bultkop, to name but a few. Also read: Business Chamber wants answers from council
