R12,5m budgeted for fresh water in Sekhukhune
THE DAYS of competing for water with animals in rivers and fountains will soon be over for the community of GaMasemola outside Jane-Furse in Limpopo.
DAILY GRIND:
Munzhedzi Mulaudzi, 86, from Thondoni
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PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANA
The Sekhukhune district municipality has set aside R12,5million to deal with the crisis.
Angry villagers protested last Tuesday, destroying road signs and ripping up the tar road to Polokwane.
They claimed that a lack of fresh tap water had forced them to fetch water from the same rivers where wild and domestic animals drank.
Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwane Mulaudzi said a total of 27 people had been arrested and charged with public violence and malicious damage to property since 2008.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, the executive mayor for the Sekhukhune district municipality, David Magabe, said they have put aside R12,5million to try to resolve the water crisis in the area.
Magabe said the money would be used to replace the transformers, valves and electric cables that were stolen or vandalised by members of the community.
He said the most affected people were those from new settlements.
"Our plan is to augment our reticulation systems and extend our capacity by putting in big new pipes from the Pietgouws water plant to the affected villages.
"On completion the plant will pump up to 12 mega-litres of water a day as opposed to the current eight mega-litres.
"We have also decided to drill a sizeable number of boreholes in the new settlement, so that all the residents can have enough water every day," Magabe said yesterday.
Motabolapasa
what about bo Ga- Phaahla le bo Marishane, provide water for allReport Abuse
Papage
Only now after 17 years of freedom? Be ashamed of yourself, poor people continue to suffer like in the Apartheid era. Hope the money will be used properly by responsible finance people, please employ those young girls and boys who finished their studies to assist with managing finances. Our Elders always think they can run big projects and they end up not knowing what happened to the money, get young responsible youth to assist you.Report Abuse
ApelMankotsana
These Government is so irresposible....why do they now talk about putting aside such money only after the people of Ga-Masemola protested last week..I agree with Motabolapasa, many villages in and around Sekhukhune still do not have acess to clean water.Report Abuse
Ngwanabatho
Masemola cannot be compared to small areas like Phaahle and Marishane.Those are small regions...If you do not know the area,let us enlighten you.There is Masemola Pshiring,which is where the chieftaincy is.Then there are other small areas that still fall under Masemola and are far from each other.Phaahle,Mphana,Marishane,Mamone do not have small regions like Masemola and therefore have acces to clean tap water.If you don't know,Masemola has a dam of it's own(Piet Gouws) which has been made larger,although it is not larger than Arabi or De Hoop ,it can provide the whole regions with clean water....Report Abuse
Callmeignorant
Water i s one of the basic needs that our current promised before they were put in power, now i fail to understand why does this very government has to wait for people to protest for them to deliver on what they promised in the first place. My qReport Abuse
Callmeignorant
My question is what would have happened to that R12,5 Mil if these villagers did not stage a protest?Report Abuse
100%MopediTwii
Dumela Apelmankotsana le Ngwanabatho@Callmeignorant
My question is what would have happened to that R12,5 Mil if these villagers did not stage a protest?
gud question Callmeignorant
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Tasto
Last week it was reported that government is gonna give out BONUS councillors(past¤t ones) for service delivery!!My guess is that W.C will not even sniff this money !!Ja neh some political parties afta all TIA !!
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Khoi-San
@NgwanabathoI think it is irrelevant to include De Hoop in the list as it is still under construction. They havent even started impounding.
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Motabolapasa
@ngwanabathothe size of the villa.ge suppose not to dictate as to whom should get water, we all form part of that municipality.
irrespect of being from those small villa,ges as u said, we all deserve clean water mchana
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