Michael Sakuneka

Michael Sakuneka

A councillor for Limpopo's Greater Letaba municipality lives in fear of his life after angry residents stormed his home last week to demand drinking water.

The incensed residents from Rabothata village near Iketleng in Bolobedu allegedly stormed into the home of Frans Masenamela at about 7pm.

They rushed into his house and claimed to represent other members of the community who could not join them.

"They demanded to know why they were not getting water in their village," Masenamela said.

Tension between the councillor and the community started after a borehole which supplies water to the community broke down, leaving them without water for weeks.

"I explained to them that there was a problem with a communal borehole which supplied water in the area and that we were busy with the district municipality to correct the situation."

Masenamela said he feels threatened because if the problem is not attended to something "bad" might happen to him.

He blamed his plight on the Mopani district municipality, which is the authority responsible for the for provision of water in the area. Masenamela says they have taken too long to respond to water-related queries from local municipalities.

He took some of the irate residents to the offices of the district municipality in Giyani so they could voice their concern.