LIMPOPO- WIith the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) wrapping up its Integrated Development Plan (IDP) consultative meetings at the Thohoyandou Indoor Sports Centre for the Thulamela Local Municipality on April 26, hundreds of residents from 17 rural villages marched from the Viva garage in Sibasa to the VDM offices in Thohoyandou, demanding immediate clean water supply for their households.
Their placards declared that they are tired of being offered water from tankers or having to fetch it from rivers.
Villagers from Bunzhe, Makononi, Ha-Magidi and Mbilwi organised a peaceful march demanding that the municipality, as the water services authority, must address the scarcity of water as a matter or urgency.
Community leader, Seemise Tovhowani said the march for VDM to deliver clean water was a signal that rural communities cannot wait any longer for what is a precious resource.
“Water is life and without clean water, rural communities are forced to share water with animals at rivers. This is a health hazard. We have waited long enough, this municipality must now deliver on its promise,” said Tovhowani.
He remarked that while the Nandoni Dam near Thohoyandou was at full capacity, nearby villages don’t have their basic needs met in the form of clean, running water.
Some of their demands include water provision to affected villages from four wards in Thulamela “for 24 hours a day”, he said.
“We have pipes in our villages, but there is no water.”
He said they gave the municipality 14 days to respond to their demands, failing upon which they will shut down all affected areas until their demands are met.
Municpal councillor, Steven Pandelani who received the memorandum on behalf of the Vhembe Mayor, Dowelani Nenguda said they are working around the clock to address the water issue.
