The first thing that catches the eye when one visits Vyeboom Murahu-ha-Thavha in Vuwani is the dryness of the land. This dryness is seen on the ground around the communal water taps in the street corners.
Residents buy 210 litre drums of water at anything between R30 and R50 from motorists who go around the village selling water. A 20-litre bottle of water costs at least R1,50 or more. Residents say that they are sorely affected by the lack of water and add that water is a source of life. According to young Gift Mudau (22), the community had reported the issue of the lack of water to the Makhado Municipality some three months ago, who then promised to send water trucks.
"We've been without water since January this year," an irate Damelin student said. "You can't supply water to people once a month and then think they will use it for the next four weeks." Gift added that the municipality's indifference and refusal to care for people will always create a platform for strife between the community and the ward councillor.
In Vyeboom, only a couple of taps can be found on street corners and residents go there in the hope that they may find running water. Sadly, the water taps merely puke out dust when residents open them. "We've got five dry boreholes here and we're told there's no water underground," said Vho-Mutshekwa Mukhithi (64). "We understand that, but they should at least bring us water sometimes or else try to drill other boreholes."
In 2010, Vyeboom residents held a peaceful demonstration in front of the premier's offices in Polokwane, where they asked the provincial government to intervene in the lack of service delivery in the village. According to residents, the march didn't yield much in terms of bringing changes about the issues they addressed.
Cllr Phineas Mathoma (Ward 3) said that he was aware that there was a shortage of water in Vyeboom and trucks had been supplying residents with water at least twice or three times a week. "That's short-term relief," he said. "The Vuwani bulk water supply project will supply water to Vyeboom, Kurhuleni North and Kurhuleni South. The Vuwani reservoir will be feeding from the Nandoni Dam. This is a R19 million project," he said.