Muni supplies community with water after protests

Following service delivery action protest by the community of Mothibaskraal on Monday when residents barricaded the Nobody intersection with stones, tyres and branches, Polokwane Municipality responded to residents’ demands by dispatching two water tankers to the area the same day.
The municipality’s response was met with mixed reaction from residents some of whom claimed that they had to go over to action before anything happened. Mphezulu Maphanga who led a group of protesters, said they had met with ward 6 councillor Mapula Phoshoko on Monday to discuss water provision issues in the area. He added that they have scheduled an official community meeting for today (Thursday) to address all the issues faced by residents.
Maphanga indicated that they have postponed their protest to see if the municipality would continue supplying water to the area.
During their demonstration residents alleged that they had been struggling with water supply for over three years. It was further reported that residents had resorted to action protest following an incident on Sunday where an elderly woman nearly got hit by a truck while pushing a water drum across the road.
Phoshoko confirmed that the municipality supplied water on Monday and reiterated that drivers of the two tankers pledged to supply water on Thursdays. She further said only a certain portion in the community struggles with water. “We have a borehole in the area that can supply the whole community with water every day but we are waiting for electrification of the borehole and installation of water pipes.”
Communications and Marketing Manager of Polokwane Municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo informed that there was a wide spread water shortage in Mankweng, Moletjie and the CBD in the past few weeks due to low water levels at Ebenezer Dam. He stated that the municipality had to dispatch about nine tankers to all the affected areas and it was a challenge to serve all of them at once.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert.observer@gmail.com