EFF connects Dairing residents with scarce resource

Households around Dairing outside Blood River have officially started benefitting from the water project that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) initiated in the neighbourhood about three weeks ago after the party’s Commander-in-Chief, Julius Malema celebrated the milestone with a low key ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday.
He addressed a small gathering of community members and party representatives before cutting an EFF-red ribbon granting access to the water source. Before he could take off to another meeting in the area, Malema put the water to the test.
In an interview before Malema’s arrival, Moletjie Traditional Council headwoman Mpho Moloto expressed gratitude on behalf of the community towards the EFF for providing them with the scarce resource at a time when the whole country was suffering. According to her there had been problems with water in the area over intervals in the past and she indicated that they were elated about water coming their way. She urged the community to take care of the resource and the equipment.
Evans Mothapo, the EFF’s candidate for Ward 10 in next week’s upcoming by-elections, informed Polokwane Observer that water was a crisis across the ward that is made up of 12 villages inhabited by an estimated 15 360 residents. According to him people were dependent on getting water home by donkey cart or from municipal tankers once a month, but that some never received water as they were being overlooked.

It was learnt that negotiations on the project started on 10 October this year and that the water was connected within a week after work on the project commenced. The project was completed in conjunction with the community who volunteered their time and equipment. The project entailed the digging of a trench for a connection from a water source below a windmill that has been in existence for decades on a property about half a kilometre away from where two 5 000-litre tanks were positioned in the yard of another dwelling. A tap installed some metres away now grants the community access to water.
At the occasion Malema, speaking in Sepedi throughout, referred to the EFF having given the people of Dairing the gift of water. Stressing that they were not buying votes, he emphasised that the EFF wasn’t in government but if they were they would have achieved more. He cautioned the community to take care of the resource and see to it that it did not get vandalised.
After the ribbon cutting Malema moved on to nearby Mulaudzi Secondary School where he addressed a crowd of some 2 000 community members before handing out a reported five wheelchairs and 1 500 blankets. He expressed joy at seeing elderly among the audience, which demonstrated that people were tired of the African National Congress government and needed change. He gave the assurance that the EFF was their last hope. Having introduced Mothapo to the audience, he called on them to vote correctly.
In spite of the persisting excruciating heat, the venue was packed. Scores of guests who could not secure space inside congregated around the tent.

Story and photos: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com

Featured photos: Julius Malema addresses the audience at Mulaudzi Secondary School Sunday. Right: EFF Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema cuts the ribbon at the water project in Dairing with Evans Mothapo, the EFF’s candidate for Ward 10 and Moletjie Traditional Council headwoman Mpho Moloto.