GGM mayor asks villagers to report perpetrators
Greater Giyani mayor, Thandi Zitha, urged communities living in areas with severe water challenges to avoid illegal activities that might worsen their situation.
This includes illegal connections on the pipeline that supplies water in their areas. Speaking during a public participation event held at Ndindani village, the mayor said illegal links on the main pipeline that supplies water in the communities aggravate water challenges since it reduces pressure and denies the rest of the community access to water. “As a community, you should stand up against illegal connections on your main water pipeline; these only benefit one or two individuals and denies the rest access to water,” said the mayor.
She urged communities to guard the pipeline to ensure that it was not breached along the way. “Before the illegal connections to the main pipeline, most people had access to water. However, now that everyone wants water in their houses, the water challenge has become severe. “Even worse is the fact that those who have established these illegal connections do not pay for the service,” said the mayor. She urged communities to stand together and guard the infrastructure. This includes borehole pumps which are regularly stolen in many villages.
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“As I pointed out, most of these thefts are committed by people you know well. The most effective way to prevent it is to join hands as a community and act on illegal behaviour,” she said. The mayor also addressed poor road infrastructure as raised by the community. She said there were plans to tar the main road that links five villages in the area. “This is not a promise, I’m just telling you that preparations have already started to tar the road by the next financial year,” she said.
Meanwhile, Misaveni William Mabunda from Phalawubeni complained that the municipality was neglecting their needs. “Our roads have been overgrown with vegetation and every time someone is sent to clear it, they do shoddy work. We need a lasting solution,” he said. Responding to this the mayor said she would send EPWP workers to the area to address the challenge as soon as possible. “Let me assure you workers will be sent to clear your roads,” said the mayor. According to her, the municipality plans to pave a 3km road at Hlomela village in the current financial year.
