14 years without clean water supply for Malamulele communities
Traditional leader Hosi Xilungwa Mhinga said some residents in affected areas have become used to sharing river water with animals.
LIMPOPO – How long must the communities still wait for clean, running water from their taps?
This was the question one of the traditional leaders in Malamulele, Hosi Xilungwa Mhinga asked Vhembe Mayor Dowelani Nenguda and some senior managers in the district, during the handover of the Xikundu/Mhinga water reticulation scheme for three area clusters on July 6.
Mhinga said his communities had been without clean water since 2009 and have become used to sharing river water with animals.
The Xikundu/Mhinga water reticulation projects are expected to be completed by June 2024.
“We are happy that the district has handed over the water projects to the contractors, however we are worried about unfinished water projects, as these projects continue to leave our communities without water from the taps. We also don’t have a working sewer system in our communities, which is not ideal.”
Vhembe project manager for the water reticulation projects, Lesly Budeli said the scope of the work involves water reticulation pipelines, the installation of 304 stand pipes and rehabilitation of existing boreholes.
Budeli said he and his team, promise that they will work hard to ensure that the projects are completed in time to bring relief to the Xikundu and Mhinga communities.
Nenguda remarked that the municipality will not tolerate substandard work from any contractors, as the district is the official water services authority mandated with the delivery and supply of clean water to the communities.
“We are fighting hard against those who are responsible for illegally connecting water, as this is a massive drawback in terms of service delivery,” he said.
