Taps, but no water for Pretoria North residents

Mmakaunyane residents are voicing complaints regarding their local municipality giving them “false hope” when they installed taps, but no running water, at their homes last year, Pretoria North Rekord reports.

“The municipality came in 2016 and installed taps and a plumbing system in our houses, but water would not come out,” local resident Vincent Tlala told Pretoria Rekord.

READ MORE: Vulnerable fear Cape Town’s water shut-off

Residents of the community in Winterveldt, north of Pretoria, are forced to travel far to get water from nearby areas.

“We have to go to the bus rank to fetch water,” said Tlala.

“Sometimes there is a long queue, and the only way to avoid it is if you buy it from someone.”

Resident, Thuli Tau collects water on his donkey-cart then goes around the neighbourhood selling it

According to Tlala, people who have more time during the day are running thriving businesses collecting the water from the same tap. They would then wait for people who return home late from work and sell it to them.

“We have no option but to buy it.”

A Grade 12 learner at Mmakaunyane Secondary School, Mashudu Tshoteli, said that he makes a 40-minute round trip to fetch water every day.

A learner from Mmakaunyane Secondary School, Mashudi Tshoteli fetches water 20 minutes away from home.

“Before I start with my homework, I have to go fetch water from the bus terminus,” said Tshoteli.

Another resident, Shangy Mbekwa, said: “Pensioners use their social grant to buy water. They were robbed by the people who installed taps. They gave them false hope.”

The Bojanala municipality had not responded to any enquiries at the time of going to print.

Vulnerable fear Cape Town’s water shut-off

 For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.