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No water, no comment

 

For many residents of Louis Trichardt, Tshikota and even as far as Elim, the last three weeks brought a feeling of déjà vu as taps ran dry yet again.

This time around,  no notice of water interruptions was given and many were caught with their back-up containers stored away. The reason for this, according to local AfriForum chairperson Mr Wally Schultz, is the miserable failure of the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) to fulfil their duties.

For the past three weeks, said Schultz, the Mowkop Reservoir could not be filled to 100% capacity, as a result of broken-down water pumps. “If one pump goes and is not fixed in time, the reservoir will run dry, and when the pump is fixed again, the reservoir can take up to three days to get full again,” said Schultz.

The exact reason as to why the pumps have stopped working this time around is, however, not clear. Schultz himself promised to investigate the matter as soon as he was back in town. He was approached as little to no communication was coming from the VDM.

Schultz blamed a lack of leadership for the VDM’s failure to supply one of residents' most basic needs. The positions of both the municipal manager and the director of technical services are vacant at present. These positions are crucial when it comes to water service delivery and are both currently being filled by interim appointments. “There is nobody to hold accountable at VDM or who knows what they are expected to do,” said Schultz.

As AfriForum chairperson, Schultz has been trying to hold the VDM, which is the institution responsible for maintaining water infrastructure, accountable for the past three years. AfriForum obtained a High Court order during August 2012, forcing the VDM to adhere to an action plan that would have ensured an uninterrupted water supply to Louis Trichardt. Alas, AfriForum has found that one can bring a municipality to the water but cannot force them to give water to the people.

After VDM was threatened with a second court application for contempt of court, they asked AfriForum for an allowance on the first order to afford them time to implement the prescribed action plan. During August 2014, the Bergh Street and Mowkop reservoirs (the key storage-and-supply reservoirs to town) were reported to be 100% full. Sadly, only two and a half months later, the situation took a turn for the worse when, during an inspection tour of the supplying boreholes, these were found to be in a severe state of careless collapse.

The new year also brought new troubles, adding to the current water woes, when it soon became clear that VDM was coming apart at the seams. Two weeks ago, the Zoutpansberger reported about fears that the VDM might be border-line bankrupt.

These rumours were further fuelled by reports that the Makhado Municipality had cut off the VDM’s electricity supply to the water pumps because VDM’s accounts had fallen in arrears. Both municipalities were approached for comment in this regard. Despite numerous promises by VDM spokesperson Mr Matodzi Ralushai to respond, he had yet to do so by the time of our going to press. Makhado municipal spokesperson Mr Louis Bobodi did respond, indicating that cutting the power was a mistake that was rectified.

It is clear from readers' complaints that no relief has been experienced. More and more residents have been calling on Schultz to assist with arrangements to ensure that an emergency water tanker visit their homes.

In the meantime, it would seem that AfriForum might be preparing for another round in court regarding the current water crisis. “More details will follow shortly, but for now I’m not at liberty to say anything because of impending legal action,” said Schultz. “We don’t want people to relocate elsewhere. This is a problem that can be solved with the right action,” he added.

Residents can log on to Schultz’s dedicated complaint line on Facebook to either report water shortages or to request the emergency water tanker. The page can be found under the name I.A.M (Independent Action Forum).

 

Date:26 March 2015

By: Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

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