WATER starved residents under the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality in Sekhukhune district are illegally drawing water from a main pipe line due to ongoing shortages.
The affected areas include Riba-Cross, Mashamothane, Driekop and Bothashoek near the town of Burgersfort.
The Executive Mayor of Sekhukhune district municipality Julia Lata Mathebe acknowledged that the water and sanitation services related challenges faced by the communities are massive during her IDP/budget for 2022/2023 on 25 May.
With the total revenue budget of R1,7 billion, R571,10 million was allocated to the infrastructure and water services department which is nearly half of the municipality’s total revenue expenditure. According to Mathebe the infrastructure and water services department is receiving the lion’s share of the budget.
“This is because the mandate of the IWS Department, which is primarily to provide water and sanitation services to the people of Sekhukhune, is the heartbeat of this district municipality,” said Mathebe.
Selesho Khutso Makofane a resident of Riba-cross since 1998 buys water that cost R300 per 1000 litres. Together with his family they use about plus to minus 5000 litres in a month.
The family does not take water from Lebalelo pipe line as they don’t know if the water is clean and healthy to consume.
“The tanks in the village are from some of the businesses around here and are controlled by resident leaders/ chosen personnel within the community,” said Makofane.
According to Makofane residents that do not afford to buy water also fetch water in the nearby Moopetse river.
“I am not happy about how the municipality is delivering the services in our area. A lot of services like electricity, water and sanitation are not in place. The last time we received water from the government was in 2001. The reason for providing water they suspected that the water from the river could be the cause of cholera outbreak. Most of people were sick. After the situation was resolved they stopped providing water,” said Makofane.
Mathebe said the municipality’s approach at a political level, “is that we must be proactive in identifying and solving service delivery problems.”
Mathebe said they strive to realise human rights through this IDP/Budget.
“The various services that we provide to our people as municipalities, including water and sanitation infrastructure, electricity, and roads, must be based on the obligation to fulfil human rights,” said Mathebe.
A total of R88, 662 million has been allocated to the office of the municipal manager to enable proper implementation and supervision of the service delivery projects.
Mathebe said the municipality remains focused on ensuring that the six mayoral priorities guide its implementation which include provision of water and sanitation services in a sustainable manner among others. – news@mukurukuru.co.za
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