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HEAVY LOAD: People walk long distances to get water. PHOTOS: Sowetan

FILTHY: Victor Claasen and his brother Zandar get water from a pipe connected to a fountain.

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THE Mpumalanga health department says it has been experiencing a low intake of people with diarrhoea in Carolina.

The department has advised residents to follow precautionary measures and not to drink tap water because it is contaminated.

"We had an increase of people with diarrhoea in January and February. But now people have been made aware (that the water is contaminated) and are cautious," health spokesman Dumisani Mlangeni said.

Albert Luthuli municipality spokesman David Nhlabathi could not be reached for comment.

About 17,000 people live in the small town of Carolina. The residents said they were sick of the situation.

"We are forced to bathe in this water. It is not good for me and my son's skin. We have to walk a long distance to get water.

"There are long queues. I spend the whole day waiting for my turn to get water," Patricia Chuma said.

Her neighbour, Martha Mokgola, said she first noticed the water was dirty when she was doing laundry back in January.

"I saw yellow spots on my white clothes," she said. "Then I heard people from the municipality going around and making an announcement that we should not drink the water or use it for cooking.

"But the announcement was rather late because we had been drinking the water for days."

Earlier this month residents took to the streets in protest against the municipality's failure to fix the problem.

Pakistani shops were looted and buildings vandalised. Several people were arrested and some were injured.

Juliet Kunene, 17, a pupil at Zinikeleni High School, said it was difficult to cope without water.

"There are tanks filled with water but I do not drink it because it is not pure," she complained. "We only use the water from the taps to flush toilets. Its unhygienic."

• This series of investigative articles was first published in the printed newspaper on June 1 2012

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Wed May 22 22:15:28 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 5, 2012

Ngwanabatho

AMASWATI A SA SE JAIVENE YONG...
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Jun 5, 2012

MicaParis

Do we have to read about this kind of crab! I mean this is no longer news for us but the way of life in South Africa. Yes we know, nobody cares about the poor and the marginalized. We have accepted that and please can somebody give us a break! We are tired of lies and empty promises. May the good Lord answer our prayers and make South Africa a better place, ANC and all that jazz will never take us any where , pity we cannot operate a country without a Government even if it means doing nothing for the poor masses of our country. It does not matter whatever, whatever, life goes on for the sake of progressing!!
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Jun 5, 2012

B4LES

You couldn't have said it more correct MicaParis. Indeed these days the issue of lack of/or poor service delivery dominates the headlines. We have become so used to it that it does not suprise us any more.Can you belive that, we given up on one of the basic needs of life, i mean bread and butter issues.Where are they those pathetic politicians, occupyng huge hosuses in Sandton and Houghton, and only resurface when it is election time.
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Jun 29, 2012

BushBaby

No improvement will tae place while senoir positions occupied by politicians not professionals qualified for that specific department.
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