By Theodorah waga Mawasha
TSEDINKO VILLAGE-The residents of Mogabe village outside greater Tzaneen, are concerned and fearing for their lives following weeks without water in the village.
The scarcity of water obligates them to wake up early to fetch fresh water before animals arrive.
According to a community member who did not want to be named says the delivery truck designated to bring them water often runs out of water before it reaches them.
“The truck that brings us water sometimes never arrives because it starts in other villages and the water finishes before it comes to us. It’s been two weeks now without water. We are always given excuses. It’s the same story every week. We sometimes don’t even go to school because we can’t bath”, she said.
Another community member said that their challenges continue unabated and they live in fear of contracting diseases day in and out while the municipality has turned the other cheek.
“We live with the fear of being infected with all sorts of diseases. We wash our clothes and drink water from the same river. It’s a health hazard, but, we are left with no choice”, she added.
Ward 35 Councillor Ngwako Ratopola was contacted, however, there has not been any correspondence.
Mopani District Municipality media liaison Odas Ngobeni said that the municipality has noted the issue.
“We have sent a team to establish the extent of the challenge and the report is that the situation is not good at all. The borehole that was supplying the community has collapsed. We should be able to respond in the immediate, especially through the water tankers” Ngobeni said.
He further explained that ‘We should indicate that in the long term, we have a bulk water project as part of the Thabina Regional Project and the Tours Water Project, which we are busy implementing and it will benefit all the villages in Ward 35 and surrounding areas”.
