Dry Christmas Day for Mashishimale residents
Most Mashishimale residents were forced to spend half a day running around the village collecting water at leaking pipes on Christmas as taps were dry.
While many residents across the Municipality and countrywide were relaxing at their respective homes, those fortunate enough used their vehicles to fetch water at Namakgale while the less fortunate ones resorted to long queues at the village’s leaking pipes.
“Our taps started getting dry on 24 December and on Christmas Day the situation became worse. This is how human rights are violated even on Christmas Day by our local Municipality. We are daily experiencing water shortages in most sections, but none seems to care. I believe we can try to communicate to them in this way maybe they could be ashamed if the whole world could see,” said an unemployed agitated mother of three children.
On November 4, the Phalaborwa Herald reported that BPM sent out a notification stating that the water restrictions will be in place as from November 30.
The notice indicated that restrictions are apparently due to the water usage exceeding the actual estimated demand by Lepelle Northern Water and as a result the Municipality will experience low water pressure and in some areas a water shortage.
The notice further urged town and township residents to monitor the usage of water not to exceed 1 500 litres per day or about 45 000 litres per month and failure to comply water restrictions will result in additional charges for extra water used as well as further restrictions.
Rural areas will receive water from 04:00 to 14:00, Namakgale will receive water from 04:00 to 22:00 and Lulekani from 04:00 to 22:00. Watering of gardens are also restricted, Namakgale may only water gardens on Thursday, Lulekani on Tuesday and Town, Extension 1 and 6 on Monday, Extension 8 on Wednesday and Extension 2,3, 4 and 7 on Thursday.
Further restrictions on the irrigation of gardens are that residents may only water their gardens once a week over two hour period between 16:00 – 18:00.
Attempts to get comment from Municipal spokesperson, Jonas Maheso were fruitless.
