Residents fetch water from streams despite tanks availability

TAFELKOP – When Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) availed seven water tanks in Tafelkop outside Groblersdal within the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality last year, hopes of residents to have their water shortage problems addressed raised higher.

But the residents’ predicament over lack of access to water in the area continues despite the availability of the tanks.

According to the residents the water tanks were delivered last year but they had no stands to be placed on and where delivered and kept at one of the homesteads in the area.

The residents are forced to fetch water from streams they share with animals and the situation sends them fearing for their health.

During an interview with one of the television station, Mkhulu Malope, a resident, said they surprisingly received a call from one of the MMCs in the district municipality saying that the tanks would be collected and would be brought back after a week after they learnt that the media was getting to the area.

Another resident, Frisca Moloko said they came to the streams everyday because they had no taps. Moloko said they shared the from the stream with animals

“As the residents in the area we need water but this is what we have- referring to the stream,” said Frisca Moloko.

Residents blamed the municipality that they were still struggling with water when the tanks were left idle after six months.

Magdelina Molopo, said they tanks were brought there with the promise that they only be kept for six days and that she was surprised that the water tanks were still there six months after when people were still fetching water from the streams.

The municipality could not explain why the water tanks were brought to the area without stands being erected to place them.

Sekhukhune District Municipality blamed the local business forums who trapped them into delivering the tanks there.

During an interview with the television station, Moloko Moloto, SDM Communications Manager, said they were interacting with a group of people who said if the district municipality brought the tanks they we would believe the commitment of the institution that problems of lack of water supply in the area would be augmented.