Unlike at Tender park in Polokwane where most affluent Politicians and tenderpreneurs reside, Villagers at Mokgwathi Village; Mopani district get clean water only on random Mondays.
villagers from approximately twelve thousands household wake up early before the sunup carrying a large amount of Jerry cans to the village’s only nearby communal tap that supplies hygienic water.
In the meantime, the community is supplied with salty water from the local Municipality of Tzaneen.
In April this year member of the tribal council and local community submitted a memorandum to the municipality detailing thier several basic service delivery grievances.
Until thurs far, they have not received a feedback according to Mr Mohale a tribal council leader.
However ensuing that, the community has since put in concomitant measures that will remedy what they call a careless service delivery.
Through tribal council convocations, the community has resolved to build its own dam in the nearby proximity.
Each household will contribute a once off R50 for the construction the dam. Community member Selby Malatji explained the unbearable taste the the water lives after drinking it. He said is impossible to enjoy tea prepared from that water.
“The water lives unpleasant taste after drinking. Also when drinking, the taste is salty and unhygienic.
When making tea, after putting milk, the tea immediately produces a bundle of scums”.
Whilst others are finding it hard to endure the situation, unemployed Wiseman Manyike has found an opportunity that helps him keep his body and soul together.
Wiseman owns four donkeys and a donkey cart. He collect water at a nearby small farm. He sells the water at the value of R5 per 25 litre.
“To me, it is an opportunity because I get to make money and feed my five kids. The water is in high demand because people in this village say the other water is salty. People in this village are elders who cannot carry water for themselves. They are my main target market.
Sometimes I wish the situation can persist for a longer duration”. Says Mr Manyike. Mr Manyike counts R2500 weekly after deducting expenses that allows his business to run smoothly.
According to Africa Check, a non profit organisation based at Witwatersrand university school of Journalism. They are responsible for promoting accuracy in the public and the media in Africa.
Close to 90% of South African households can access piped water on an estimate, most of these households don’t have water running directly into their homes.
Less than half (46.4%) of South African households are estimated to have water piped in their homes, 26.8% have access to water on their property while 13.3%need to share a communal tap.
BY STEVE LEFOPHANA
