Water shortages and the poor state of local roads remain serious challenges for the deep rural communities of Malamangwa, Malavuwe, Gondeni, Sterkstroom, and Matsika. Villagers from these areas, which fall under Ward 39 in the Thulamela Local Municipality, turned out in large numbers during the Malavuwe Mayoral Imbizo, held at the Matsika Shooting Stars Sports Ground on Friday, 7 December.
During the imbizo, several residents urged Thulamela Mayor Athongozwidivha Rambuda and her councillors to fast-track the delivery of water and road infrastructure improvements.
Ward 39 councillor Avhapfani Khangale highlighted that Malavuwe and Matsika boast several tourist attractions, such as the Marshal Resort and the Sidou Resort. The region is also known for its banana production as well as stock and agricultural farming.
"Our rural communities are concerned about the poor state of roads. During heavy rains, buses and taxis cannot transport commuters to and from work," said Cllr Khangale. He added that on-going water shortages force residents to buy water at inflated prices. "The escalation of crimes such as car hijacking, stock theft, and burglaries are also significant concerns raised by the communities," he said.
Before the main event at the Matsika Shooting Stars Sports Ground, Mayor Rambuda and her entourage, which included councillors and traditional leaders, paid a courtesy visit to the Mphaphuli Traditional Council. They also visited the home of Phineas Mareda, where they donated food parcels and promised to build him an RDP house during the next financial year.
Eighty-four-year-old Mareda, who relies on a social grant to make ends meet, thanked the municipality for supporting poor families. "Christmas has come early for my family," he said.
One of the community members, Pastor Alpheus Makhadi from Malavuwe village, described life without clean water as a nightmare. He explained that residents often go two to three months without running water. "Some boreholes were drilled about 20 years ago, but they are now old, dilapidated, and unreliable. We urge the Vhembe District Municipality, as the water-services authority, to drill new boreholes for us. Our dusty roads also make life difficult for both communities and motorists," said Pastor Makhadi.
Khosi Mafenya-Mphaphuli, representing the traditional leaders of Ward 39, thanked the Thulamela Local Municipality for hosting the imbizo at Matsika village. He expressed hope that the event would help the communities voice their daily frustrations.
"We understand that the challenges raised by the communities include water shortages, poor road conditions, and a lack of health facilities. I urge both the Thulamela Local Municipality and the Vhembe District Municipality to address these issues promptly," said Khosi Mafenya-Mphaphuli.
Mayor Rambuda emphasised the municipality's commitment to prioritising improved services for the communities, such as better roads and access to clean water. She expressed her satisfaction that Cllr Samuel Munyai from the Vhembe District Municipality was present at the imbizo, noting that he could relay the communities' concerns to the relevant departments.