Still no water for Mahhushu
Twenty-six years into democracy, this community and a number of surrounding areas within the WhiteHazy area, are still waiting for clean, running water.
These communities opened up to Lowvelder Express about their frustration over the lack of water in their areas. “We are yet to have clean, running water.
We have been waiting since the advent of democracy, but our taps are still running dry. We have tried everything we can to get government’s attention, but it has all been in vain,” said Mahhushu resident, Monica Malatji.
She said the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has also worsened the situation and they live in fear of contracting the virus. “Government instructs us to regularly wash our hands, but in our case, how are we going to do that if we don’t have potable water?
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It has really been tough with not having this resource, especially during this period of Covid-19. We use the little we get from the water tankers to cook and drink and sometimes wash our clothes,” Malatji continued.
The City of Mbombela’s executive mayor, Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi, said they are working around the clock to address water shortages, not only in these communities, but many other areas within the city.
“We are aware that there are some villages that do not have clean, running water, especially new settlements, but we are slowly closing the gap and through our planned multi-year regional bulk water scheme, we are certain that we will turn it around,” he said.
Mathonsi argued that government has put in place a number of interventions to provide residents with water during this period.
