Some Mpumalangans have raised their concerns about the lack of water supply. These citizens bemoaned the challenges they face on a daily basis. Some are forced to go without water for several days, some have to buy it so that they can cook, bath and drink, and yet others find themselves having to use water from rivers and wells.
Meanwhile, the Mpumalanga ANC convened a provincial water intervention meeting in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality on September 30. Present in the meeting were Premier Mandla Ndlovu, the deputy minister of water and sanitation, David Mahlobo, some municipal managers and mayors, and officials of the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Catchment Agency.
The latest water challenges were blamed on ageing infrastructure and the drought caused by global warming.
During the meeting, Mahlobo made a presentation on the state of water and sanitation in the province as a foundation for practical medium- and long-term solutions to the water challenges, both old and new ones. The conclusion was that there should be a seven-point plan that should lead to the use of groundwater to increase water availability, the refurbishment of dysfunctional boreholes, the use of package plants and looking into the possibilities of mine water reclamation schemes for water reuse, among others.
Another resolution was to encourage municipalities to maintain credible revenue enhancement and credit control to ensure payment of municipal services.
“The ANC is of the view that if all stakeholders commit to playing their role in implementing this seven-point plan, the water crisis will be drastically reduced and an increased number of people will have access to clean water on a continuous basis,” said an ANC PEC statement signed by the provincial spokesperson, Sasekani Manzini, and provincial secretary Muzi Chirwa. During some interviews with community members, they shared their frustration.
KaNyamazane:
Thabile Khoza and Angel Ally from Ntokozweni and Lekazi expressed their concerns. “We are faced with a water problem at Ntokozweni. Sometimes there is no water for about three weeks, and when it comes back, it’s dirty. We are forced to buy water,” said Khoza.
“It worries us that we pay for water, but we are constantly dealing with water shortages. I don’t understand why we are expected to pay for a service we are not receiving,” added Ally.
Bushbuckridge:
Residents of Fourways Section in Ward 20 in Acornhoek said they’ve not had water for three years and two months. Winnie Makhubela says the locals buy water from those who own water tanks. “We buy 20L of water for R3, 25L for R4 and 30L for R4.50. The elders have since become more vulnerable and are forced to send some boys to buy water on their behalf,” she said.
Ironically, the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality recently appointed a service provider to install water pipes in the area. “The pipes have been installed, but there is still no water. We even wonder why the municipality installed them in the first place,” Makhubele said.
Meanwhile, a community leader from Buyisonto, Ruswell Mashego, says the village experiences water challenges from Friday to Sunday afternoon every week.
“We are only told this is the norm, but no one ever tells us whose norm is it or explains the reasons therefore. This is giving us big problems, especially for our mothers who need to do washing during weekends,” he said. “Some of us end up relying on wells to access water.”
KaBokweni:
Another Ngodini resident, Abednigo Banda, said: “How are we supposed to improve our households to have flushable toilets when we do not have water?
“The communities do not want water to be provided by municipal water tankers or private water tankers, but a water supply running in their homes. We need to fight this issue. We need to hold councillors accountable as well. We must attend community meetings and hold them accountable. They are not working and they only benefit themselves.”
Steenbok:
A community member in Steenbok, Nkomazi, who chose to remain anonymous, said they have been struggling without any water for three weeks. They say the water tankers visit their area once or twice a week, which affects them as they need water daily. “We cannot afford to buy water, because we do not have money.”
An enquiry was sent to the Nkomazi Local Municipality’s spokesperson, Cyril Ripinga, and one for the City of Mbombela, Joseph Ngala. However, by the time of going to press, no feedback had been received.
