POLOKWANE – Some residents have criticised the move by the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and organs of Provincial Government to donate plants and greenery to residential areas in the city during the launch of Arbor Month last Friday.

The city’s ongoing struggle to provide adequate water supply to residents for drinking and sanitation purposes poses the sustainability question of how viable it still is to donate plants and plant trees, according to some Seshego residents.

Environment MEC, Rodgers Monama and Mayor John Mpe were accompanied the Deputy Minister, Makhotso Sotyu at the launch of the campaign last week, handing over plants to owners of a green low-cost housing project, for the creation of sustainable communities through nutritious food, medicine, fresh air, clean water and places for recreation.

Later that evening, delegates and officials attended the National Arbor City awards ceremony held at Fusion Boutique Hotel, where the Polokwane Municipality was awarded R400 000 as the greenest local municipality in South Africa, regarded as recognition of the city’s contribution to the Ten Million Trees Programme and embracing greening initiatives by the national department in the last year.

While Mpe and other municipal officials present accepted the award and pledged to do more, pressure is mounting for the consistent supply of running water to residents in the city.

Read more: Strained water levels to continue in Polokwane

Last week, the municipality met with Seshego community representatives to discuss the challenge of inconsistent supply, a year after violent protests were staged by various communities, including those in the city cluster.

As was the situation this time last year, Seshego has gone for days without water. One resident, who did not want to be named, said government’s greenery initiative is not going to be successful.

“How will this work if we have to recycle bathing water to water plants, not because of conservation but because water tankers and trucks vanish for days,” the man asked.

Sotyu said their responsibility was to encourage the planting of trees and plants, while the Water and Sanitation Department’s responsibility is to supply water.

Last Wednesday, the local municipality’s mayoral committee had written to council to request a budget extension of the Sand River North Treatment Works on top of the over R151m, while the project still stands at 80% overall completion.

They requested for almost R50m for additional civil works, excavations and concrete, among others.

The treatment works, once completed, would alleviate supply issues and treat 18 megaliters of water from the Sand River South, Sterkloop and Polokwane boreholes.