Makhuduthamaga Municipality’s broken promises spark outrage in Phokwane Village
PHOKWANE
Residents of Phokwane Village are up in arms over the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality’s (MLM) failure to deliver on its promises, particularly in the wake of the tragic death of Jerry Matlala, a 44-year-old man with a disability who drowned in a well while fetching water.
Matlala’s death has left the community traumatized, with many residents still struggling to access clean water.
Despite the municipality’s promise to donate a borehole to the family as a gesture of remorse, nothing has materialized.
According to residents, the municipality has only provided food parcels during Matlala’s funeral, but it appears that was just a token gesture.
According to Tonic Manchidi, Chairperson of ActionSA in the Sekhukhune Region, during Jerry’s funeral, the municipality promised to donate a borehole to Matlala’s family as a gesture of remorse, but nothing has materialized.
“The sad news is that since our local municipality promised the family that they will donate a borehole as part of showing remorse, nothing has been done, we found out that they were just politicking. They have since donated food parcel during the funeral and then they disappeared,” he said.
Manchidi added that the community is still reeling from the trauma of Matlala’s death, and the lack of progress on the borehole project has only added to their frustration.
“Majority of the people I engaged say they are still traumatized and they wait for each other so that they can go fetch water in groups,” Manchidi said.
Residents say the only way they could get water is to rely on water tankers which the supply is inadequate, or alternatively fetch water in groups from the same water source where Jerry drowned, fearing for their safety.
“The community is much traumatized since the death of Jerry,” said Emelda Masehla, a resident. “We have been buying water together with some community members from the water tankers entrepreneurs,” she added.
Another young school pupil said: “We fetch water in a group since the passing of Jerry because everyone is scared to go there alone.”
The community is also up in arms over the municipality’s plans to rename the village from “Nebo” to “Lefakong”.
While the municipality is pushing to change the name “Nebo” to “Lefakong”, residents are opposed to the name change, demanding the place to be renamed Jerry Matlala instead.
Manchidi has pledged to dispute the proposal and suggest an alternative name, “Jerry Matlala”, which he said resonates with the people.
“This coming week, I am going to visit Makhuduthamaga Municipality and launch a dispute. The geographic renaming act is clear that the majority of the people who will be affected by the name change must be involved. But the municipality doesn’t care about that. We will be launching a dispute this coming week,” Manchidi said.
Manchidi has vowed to hold the municipality accountable for its failures and to fight for the rights of Phokwane Villagers.
“We won’t let them get away with empty promises and politicking. We will make sure they deliver on their promises and prioritize the needs of our community,” he said.
When approached for comment, Thomas Mashabela, MLM Spokesperson, referred the paper to the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM), citing them as the water authority in the district.
According to Moropjane, Phokwane currently receives water on a rotational basis, once a week from the Flag Boshielo Bulk Water Scheme.
“Though the supply is inconsistent, this is supplemented by four functional boreholes located in Phatametsana, Makoshala, and two in Mashifane. Additionally, six hand pumps are operational across various sections, including Boshielo, two of them at Toishi, Mabatho, Maloka, and Mogudi,” he said.
However, Moropjane said the district municipality acknowledges the need for additional few boreholes in areas such as Mokgapaneng, Maebaneng, Moshate, and Mapaeng to ensure full water provision in the village.
