TEKWANE NORTH – With a few months left ahead of the 2014 general elections, the prospects of residents promising to vote for the ruling party seem bleak.
This comes after they were left stranded without water for three days – from December 31 until January 2 – without any notification of a cut-off.
Speaking to Mpumalanga News on January 2, one of the residents, Ms Mavis Nyalunga, said that the ruling party was being unreasonable due to the fact that they expect votes from them, but did not deliver any services to the community.
She indicated they could not use ablutions inside the house and it became a health hazard.
Nyalunga also complained that the community did not have a clinic or a school and the fact that their children had to walk to the nearby Pienaar to attend school.
“We have a councilor who we elected, but not much is being done and come elections, they expect us to vote,” she said.
In a previous article, this paper had reported that the supply cuts had been ongoing and would only be restored later that evening.
Upon enquiring, residents told this journalist it had been the norm since they came to live in the area a few years ago, with water being cut off in the morning and supply restored in the evening.
Another resident, Ms Qinile Ngwenya, said that considering the fact that its the Lowveld and it gets hot during this time of the year, they can’t use the toilet or bath because of lack of water.
Mr Charles Mdhluli, who is ward committee member in the area, said he had notified his superiors about the issue and they had indicated that water tankers would be provided to ease the situation.
He added this was caused by a damaged pipe and officials of Sembcorp Silulumanzi were working around the clock to fix the problem. A group of residents waited in anticipation for the water tankers, but to no avail. Although they arrived the next day, water supply continues to be cut off during the day.
