179 Mogalakwena villages in water crisis with no end in sight
"Residents are forced to purchase 25 litres of water for R20 and those who cannot afford it, share water from the river beds with animals" DA
LIMPOPO – “Residents are forced to purchase 25 litres of water for R20 and those who cannot afford it, share water from the river beds with animals.”
This was according to Beyers Smit, DA Political Head for Mogalakwena and Member of National Council of Provinces, in a media statement after the DA recently launched a petition against the continuous water crisis in all 179 villages around Mogalakwena compounded by the water scarcity, severe heatwaves and drought since October 2015.
According to the statement, villages such as Ga-Magongoa, Vergenoegd, Galakwena, Mapela and Mahwelereng spent the festive season without water. “Consistent water supply to these areas are non-existent, taps are without a drop of water, water deliveries by the local municipality are sporadic and the boreholes have not been functioning for many years,” read the statement.
These dire circumstances prevail despite the allocation of R 5,4 million for the replacement of pipes for the water supply by Mogalakwena Municipality.
“This is proof that our people are being neglected by this ANC government. A caring government should provide good basic services and repair things when they go wrong. A DA run municipality will prioritise spending on critical infrastructure, such as water and sanitation, while cutting the cost of the bloated public sector wage bill,” Smit stated.
“After obtaining signatures from the affected residents, the DA will march to the municipality and submit a petition to Mayor Parks Sebatjane for an immediate and permanent solution to the water crisis.
The DA urges the municipality to urgently call for assistance from the Department of Water and Sanitation to provide water tankers for the residents as an interim relief measure.”
The Divisional Head of Communications, Malesela Selokela, gave the following statement with regard to the water crisis.
“It cannot be true that the community of Mogalakwena have been without a drop of water since October 2015.
“As the municipality is delivering water with water tankers to the affected villages twice a week. Mogalakwena is one of the fastest growing municipality’s in the Waterberg district and our 179 villages rely more on underground water (boreholes).
Everyone is aware of the fact that water scarcity is a national crisis due to the lack of rain. At some point the drought has affected the water table level in the boreholes. This results in long pumping hours which means the community has to wait for the reservoir to fill up before water can be released.
“The supply from our usual water source provider has been constant. However the sharp increase in consumption as well as the constant high levels of heat have caused a significant drop in the water levels of the reservoirs. We have recently been informed, by Lepelle Water, that the water level at Doorndraai dam is below 50%. And that most of the water wells (boreholes) that supply water to certain parts of Mokopane, the townships and villages, have either gone critically low or have collapsed due to drought.
The municipality has purchased four water tanker trucks to supplement the eight water tanker trucks we currently have. There is a need to purchase more water tanker trucks to speed up the services.
Selokela strongly concluded by saying: “The Mogalakwena Municipality council led by Mayor Sebatjane will do its utmost best to address the problem. Other medium to long term solutions are currently being explored by our municipality in collaboration with the water boards as well as the provincial – and national government.”
Smit met with mayor Sebatjane on Tuesday where they discussed the water crisis.
Smit told Bosveld: “The mayor acknowledged that he is aware of the crisis and that it is above the municipality’s ability to handle the situation.” Smit further said that it is impossible to provide water two times a week to 179 villages with seven tankers, thus it can’t be true. We will continue with the petition, the need of the community should come before the egos of the ANC.”
