Seshego and Mankweng residents want answers over little to no water
A substantial number of undocumented foreign nationals who seek refuge at cheap accommodation establishments, is a factor that contribute to the soaring water demand, Mayor John Mpe remarked.
POLOKWANE – Seshego and Mankweng residents fear that political battles leading up to the 2024 national elections may interfere with service delivery matters as once more, large portions of both city townships had to operate without water for over a week by Monday this week.
The lack of water affects the smooth running of especially micro businesses and homes that cannot afford alternative supplies in areas where unemployment and overcrowding are the order of the day.
A substantial number of undocumented foreign nationals who seek refuge at cheap accommodation establishments, is a factor that contribute to the soaring water demand, Mayor John Mpe remarked some time ago in response to a question of why it seemed that the municipality could not provide water for the city’s population.
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The officiated population figure conflicts with its actual size – a determining factor for financial allocation from the National Treasury, he added.
The recent interruption in water supply was, however, due to an electricity outage at the Ebenezer Water Plant which meant water could not be pumped to the city and surrounding areas.
Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala said the interruption in supply was due to a scheduled outage not from Eskom but the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality.
The community of Seshego held a meeting with Mpe in August relating to service delivery issues, to voice similar demands they made in the same period last year, and the year before that.
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It was a request for the consistent supply of water, a reduction of water bills and the implementation of a flat rate. All of these issues had previously been responded to, with the municipality having declined the flat-rate request.
Community representative Vincent Kunutu said any acts of political interference at the expense of communities will be nipped in the bud this year, “We know that politicians use tactics to appear good and to make others appear bad. That is why we have taken the effort to ask questions, especially around the municipality’s progress with regard to building capacity since it was stated that the population growth was above the current capacity”.
The municipality committed to respond to the group’s demands some time this week.
