MOKOPANE – Malesela Selokela, Head of Communication of Mogalakwena Municipality, denied any claims made by residents that they had to drink water from a source with dead animals in. This comes after SABC 2 aired the incident on television last Monday.
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“There is absolutely nothing of that sort in Uitzicht and the community does not use water where there is dead animals in the water. The municipality has six boreholes in the village. Two of those boreholes are broken and will be fixed after budget adjustments, but there is enough water from those four boreholes for the community of Uitzicht.”
Mogalakwena Mayor, Andrina Matsemela, accompanied by technical services and municipal officials, visited Uitzicht village last Wednesday to resolve water challenges they experience.
“Residents indicated the problem of water shortage is mainly in the new extension stands and they will rather fetch water from the old village than from the river.
“They further indicated those who live in the high lying areas sometimes do not have water due to illegal water connections,” Selokela said.
According to Selokela, residents requested the municipal leadership to construct a new reservoir or provide new steel tanks and connect new pipes from the old village to the new stands.
“We understand the community’s challenges and the municipality’s priority is to provide water, electricity, roads and other services,” Selokela added.
Matsemela, however, advised the community and their leaders to engage with the municipality when they want to allocate stands for villagers to avoid a situation where people don’t have access to municipal services.
“The community has to follow the right channels. If they are not happy and have issues affecting them, they should report these issues to the municipality,” Matsemela said, adding the community should only approach the media if they do not receive a response from the municipality.
Matsemela said she noted all the issues raised by the community.
“We will return to the municipality and draw up a plan of action which will assist the community and other residents of new stands across the municipality to address water challenges,” she said.
In closing remarks Matsemela explained water shortage is a national crisis because of drought as boreholes are dry and dam levels are low.
“Doorndraai dam is currently at 39% compared to the 66% it was a year ago. All we can do is to pray for rain.”
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
