Residents faults SDM over water crisis.

Mamone

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Mamone ward 21 have visited and engaged with the executive mayor of Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) Stanley Ramaila to discuss unending scarcity of water on November 18.

Unhappy fighters were accompanied by Mamone crisis committee to share their sad story of water scarcity to the mayor.

The group said they’re livid to live without access to clean water, and that they want to rely on underground water from boreholes

Residents claimed their ward does not have a single dam to supply the area and that they are supplied by ward 20 which has four dams but due to low pressure residents end up not accessing water from taps.

Prior nationwide lockdown, two boreholes were identified as sources which could possible supply the community.

But due to political indifferences the community had experienced bad suffering because previously the process of water project has been delayed.

According to the members of the community Mamone Crisis Committee was established aimed at tackling social issues.

But the committee resulted in some of the members pulling out because of what they call “political principal”.

Chairperson of the EFF, Rantho Phethedi said they met with Ramaila to implore him to install water tank machine which would purify and transfer water from two boreholes to the taps.

Phethedi said the fact that, they don’t have a dam affected them badly and adds that for now they would rather rely on boreholes.

“We really need the water tank machine so that people could access and drink purified water.” said Phethedi.

He however deemed Sekhukhune District Municipality to have failed them dismally because they were neglected for years without residents having access to clean water.

Commenting on political indifference he said people must stop to mix political issues with community issues.

“We were shocked when ANC ward councillor, Mabatane Mathale pulled out from the committee cited political principal,” explained Phethedi

He said the committee was even entertained by SDM members of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) infrastructure and water services councillor Fani Mahlangu.

According to Phethedi, Mathale pulled out because he was told by fellow comrades that he cannot work with the EFF of projects.

“Despite getting advises from Tebane Moteka, the EFF members of the national assembly who wanted Mathale to be part of the project he didn’t return to the committee,” explained Phethedi.

“We are both public official but our primary activity is to ensure that residents get services,” he added

Phethedi, deputy chairperson of Mathale threatened the MMC Mahlangu to also release himself from the committee

“The ANC didn’t want to complete the water project in the area because they wanted to use the issue in their strategy for upcoming local elections,” Phethedi said he was told by members of the ANC.

He said the MMC had received treats from ANC members, and he decided to pull out as well from the committee.

“Mahlangu feared for his life because the ANC comrades threatened him,” Phethedi added.

When Mathale left the committee his six followers from the committee left with him.

He said in his area they’ve five boreholes and both of them were tested but only two were fruitful

SDM, acting mayoral spokesperson, Isaac Mahlakwane, said the district municipality is very aware of the water challenge in their jurisdiction as a water authority and the provider and that will also include the village of Mamone.

“Lack of rain together with global warming has caused water level underground to drop in most of our dams,” said Mahlakwane.

He said the executive mayor Ramaila is appealing to residents of Sekhukhune to be calm as they are busy implementing short and medium term measures by refurbishing and installing boreholes in affected areas.

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