Malamulele residents frustrated over lack of drinking water
Matodzi Ralushai, spokesperson for the Vhembe Municipality says the municipality is still in the process of acquiring materials, and once available, the pipeline will be repaired.
LIMPOPO – Their frustration over a lack of clean, drinking water for nearly a month recently reached boiling point for residents of Mavambe, Ghandlanani in Malamulele when they took matters into their own hands by shutting down the Malamulele Water Treatment Scheme on November 20.
According to residents, the water crisis started after the passing of the late Collins Chabane Mayor, Moses Maluleke. Since then, they have been forced to share the Rivubye stream’s dirty water with animals, they told CV.
According to a resident, Rosinah Chabalala, many residents had little choice other than to fetch water from the polluted stream and boil it for cooking, drinking and other daily household needs.
“The situation forces us to use water that is contaminated with used nappies and animal faeces, and where some residents even swim. Since the passing of the former mayor, we sometimes spend weeks or months without water. We have no option otherwise as to walk far distances, pushing a wheelbarrow with two or three 25-litre containers of water,” she said.
Hosi Xirele Manganyi said the shortage of water was a big concern for the entire Malamulele area. As the community grappled with the ongoing water crisis, the plea for urgent intervention and to find a resolution grew louder, he said.
“The situation is not sitting well with us. Not everyone can afford to hire vehicles to fetch water for them, which leads them to use water from the contaminated stream. We are hoping that the Vhembe District Municipality immediately resolves the matter, especially in this hot season.”
Matodzi Ralushai, spokesperson for the Vhembe Municipality ascribed the delay in maintenance to a shortage of material needed to repair the pipeline at the Malamulele Water Treatment Scheme.
“The municipality is still in the process of acquiring materials, and once available, the pipeline will be repaired.
“The technical team is currently addressing water supply challenges through water trucks, but some areas, including Ghandlanani, did not receive water in this way due to maintenance needed for the trucks. This is being attended to as a critical issue because the municipality is concerned about water shortages in the communities,” he said.
