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Mukula residents have to collect water from nearby fountains, which the animals drink from too. Photo supplied.

Mukula residents are still struggle to access clean drinking water

 

Many communities in Vhembe continue to struggle with access to clean drinking water. Mukula village too has had its share of water woes for decades, and the water project that was promised them, and started years ago, still remains incomplete.

Residents are very upset - not only because they have been without water for so many years, but also because they must collect water from nearby fountains where animals graze.

When the former Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, announced in 2011 that the government was in the process of resolving the problem and that water shortages in the village would soon be a thing of the past, the whole community went wild.

The R18 million Mukula water project, which commenced soon after the announcement, was scheduled to be complete by June 2012. Plans included the rehabilitation of existing boreholes, the drilling of two additional boreholes at Tshidimbini and Tshivhilwi, the rationalisation of water from Vondo and Damani and the use tanks to deliver water as a short-term intervention. Mabudafhasi also announced a further R1.5 million Adopt-a-River Project for the rehabilitation of the wetlands and other streams around Mukula. But the residents are still waiting for these promises to be fulfilled.

“We request our government to intervene to give our community water,” said the spokesperson for the Mukula Concerned Group, Mr Daniel Nesamasi. “When we voted, these people promised us heaven and earth. We have always thought water would be a priority for them, as there is no life without water, but water has become the scarcest resource in our area. We know that there is a shortage of water, but other communities get alternative sources of water while we do not have a drop.”

Ms Takalani Singo from Mukula said that the residents and animals had developed a unique relationship by now, with one need in common: clean water. Groups of residents can be seen collecting water at the different swamps and dirty wells, with the animals queuing not far away in the bushes for their turn.

Singo said that residents had now threatened to withdraw their votes in the forthcoming elections if nothing was done to address their plight. “We are sick and tired of this hide-and-seek game played by government officials who keep on making empty promises about finishing the water project. We do not know what to do anymore. We have been to all the relevant authorities to seek assistance, but in all instances we only managed to get even more empty promises,” she said. “We are tired of being neglected. We are now appealing to the President to come and see our conditions here. There is a lot of unemployment and poverty, with no services at all, and we just feel that we are not regarded as residents of this country.”

Mr Matodzi Ralushai, Vhembe District Municipality’s spokesperson, said the inquiry had been sent through to the technical department. His response had not been received at the time of our going to press.

 

 

Date:05 September 2021

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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