Water challenges put local residents at risk
One resident, Nokuthula Nxumalo, said they have to wake early to collect water and have to compete with animals to access water from nearby streams.
INGWAVUMA residents are struggling to receive clean water and claim uMkhanyakude District Municipality does not provide water tankers to alleviate the problem.
Residents say this sad state of affairs has been ongoing for almost three years.
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One resident, Nokuthula Nxumalo, said they have to wake early to collect water and have to compete with animals to access water from nearby streams.
‘Previously, our district municipality installed boreholes for us, but those boreholes are now dysfunctional and no one is fixing them.
We have to put our lives in danger, avoiding snakes and wild animals to locate streams with clean water. We are forced to wake up early to get to the streams before the animals do,’ said Nxumalo.
Another resident, Vusi Khumalo, said as a community they have realised the district municipality does not have a solution.
‘Our councillors are only fighting over who should lead the municipality. Our only solution is to stage a protest as it is the only language they seem to understand.’
Khumalo said the water issue was putting women and children in danger. ‘Last year in Kwashukela, a teenage girl was raped while on her way to the river to fetch water.
The same year, another two women were raped in the Madeya area in the evening when looking for water. In that incident, one of the suspects was stoned to death by members of the community.’
uMkhanyakude District Municipality communications manager, Mdu Dlamini said his municipality will task officials to investigate these allegations and find a solution.
‘Our municipality has embarked on a programme to repair and upgrade all our ageing water infrastructure,’ said Dlamini. ‘Funds have been set aside for this project.
We will also seek alternative means to supply those residents with water as a matter of urgency.’
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