Residents of Matsila and Njakanjaka village will now have clean drinking water, following the handing over of boreholes and (hippo) water rollers by the Radzambo Cultural Foundation, the Lepelle Water Board and AECI on Friday.
This is to ensure that the community has access to clean water, a key ingredient in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus. More than 4 000 households now have access to clean water after residents used to rely on water tankers.
Chief Livhuwani Matsila of the Radzambo Cultural Foundation said that the boreholes and water rollers enhanced the ability of members of the communities to comply with the Covid-19 regulations to wash their hands regularly and maintain satisfactory standards of hygiene. "With water at their doorsteps, our people will now stay at home without travelling long distances in search of water. We also wish to express appreciation for the generous donation of more than 200 water rollers of 90 litres each, which ensure efficient delivery of water from the boreholes to households. These water rollers will be communal property to be utilised by households on a roster basis within each community."
The chairperson of Lepelle Water Board, Mr Joe Mathebula, said that they alleviated water shortages as the country battled against Covid-19. "We are ready to change the lives of our communities for the better, and as we are the water services authority, we will not rest until our communities get better services."
One of the residents, Vho-Muofhe Mudau, said that they had struggled with water provision for many years. "We were using water tankers most of the time, sometimes once a week and it was not enough. From today, we are very thankful," said Mudau.
Vhembe's executive mayor, Cllr Dowelani Nenguda, has urged the residents to take care of the water infrastructure. Nenguda is concerned about people who tamper with the boreholes. He appealed to the communities to stop vandalizing the material at the site. "Stealing will move the construction of the project off its tracks," he added.