Residents suspected of pushing political agendas amid water crisis
Cogshta MEC Basikopo Makamu delivered the keynote address at the District Ward Committee Summit earlier today where he said it is highly suspected that people are taking advantage of the country-wide water shortage conditions to push political agendas.
POLOKWANE – The Limpopo Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs MEC Basikopo Makamu has requested ward committee members from all across the Capricorn District Municipality to assist locals in making differentiations between community outcries for water and political disruptions.
Makamu delivered the keynote address at the District Ward Committee Summit at Bolivia Lodge earlier today (November 15) in the presence of officials from Eskom, Lepelle Northern Water, Capricorn District Municipality, local mayors, and ward committees.
His words were aimed at addressing residents who participated in a march to the Polokwane Municipality on October 26 that turned violent because of a lack of acknowledgment from municipal officials.
Read more: Rubber bullets fired as Seshego residents protest over water
At the time, residents requested that their memorandum of demands be received by Executive Mayor, John Mpe which never happened and led to the closure of the N1 near the Nirvana circle in Polokwane.
Read more: WATCH: Chaos as rubber bullets fired near the N1 circle
Makamu said it is highly suspected that people are taking advantage of the country-wide water shortage to push political agendas and that committee representatives should alert residents they serve.
“No matter how much it has been explained that load-shedding affects the pumping of water to intended reservoirs, people still use this to destabilise governance. No matter the solutions as well, they just continue. That should alarm you,” he said.
The purpose of the summit was to engage and strengthen ward committees that deal with water and sanitation and take stock of progress made in the delivery of services and its challenges in the hopes of finding lasting solutions.
From August, running water would only come out in the early hours of the morning and seize from around 09:00 in areas such as Westenburg, Nirvana, Extensions, Flora Park, and Seshego, among others.
The summit also provided an engagement session opportunity for ward committee groups carrying the burden of unanswered questions from residents who are frustrated by the inconsistent water supply.
