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Borehole owner comes to villagers' rescue

February 08, 2016. PAY TO QUENCH: John Manganyi pays Lesibana Senwamadi for water at their village outside Mokopane, Limpopo. Photo Sandile Nldovu. © Sowetan
February 08, 2016. PAY TO QUENCH: John Manganyi pays Lesibana Senwamadi for water at their village outside Mokopane, Limpopo. Photo Sandile Nldovu. © Sowetan

A man from Limpopo is sharing his water source with fellow villagers after taps went dry in the area, resulting in a recent violent protest.

Lesibana Senwamadi, 76, from Marulaneng village in Mogalakwena offers his borehole water to locals at R2.50 per 25-litre container.

Last week residents in the area went on the rampage blocking roads and the entrance to George Masebe Hospital after they went without water for weeks.

Senwamadi said he was one of the few people in the area who could afford private boreholes.

"It is true that our people struggle with water. So this is the only way I am able to help. Sometimes I give the water away for free because people cannot afford," he said.

Yesterday Marulaneng community forum secretary Nicolas Monene said there was still no water since the protest was suspended seven days ago.

Monene said the community planned to embark on another protest on Sunday.

He said only two out of eight boreholes in the area were working.

Monene said water problems in the area were caused by poor maintenance of boreholes on the part of the municipality.

However, Mogalakwena municipality spokesman Malesela Selokela said they had sent technicians to the area and two boreholes had already been repaired.

Selokela said they would continue to resolve the water issues in the area gradually.

He dismissed claims that the municipality had committed to resolving the issue within seven days.

"The mayor did not give an exact time frame. People are now making things up," Selokela said.

He said currently only 20 of 178 villages under the municipality experienced water shortages.

Selokela said the municipality did not have challenges with old infrastructure. He instead blamed the water problems on drought.

Yesterday the provincial leader of the DA in the province Jacques Smalle said they had gathered 2 500 signatures for an ongoing water petition in the area.

"I was in the area last week and I can promise you the situation is still horrific," he said.

mahopoz@sowetan.co.za

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