Laersdrift residents forced to share drinking water with animals

LAERSDRIFT

Residents of Laersdrift, a community under the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality (EMLM) Ward 30, stated that they are facing a harsh reality of not getting clean drinkable water.

Residents say despite celebrating Nelson Mandela’s legacy and his fight for equality and access to basic services, they are struggling to access one of the most fundamental human rights, clean drinking water.

According to residents, the Larsdrift community is experiencing a serious shortage of drinking water, forcing them to share water with animals from nearby rivers and streams. This situation is not only unhygienic but also poses serious health risks to the community.

“We are living in a country that prides itself on its rich history of fighting for human rights, yet we are struggling to access something as basic as clean drinking water,” said a frustrated resident who did not want to be named. “It is unacceptable that we are forced to share water with animals, it is a situation that no human being should endure,” she said.

The resident indicated that the community’s plight is a stark contrast to the values of equality, dignity, and access to basic services that Nelson Mandela fought for.

“As the nation celebrates Mandela’s legacy, the residents of Laersdrift are reminded of the long road to achieving these fundamental rights,” she said.

She added that the affected community will be urging authorities to take immediate action to address the water shortage crisis and provide the community with access to clean and safe drinking water.

“We are calling on the authorities to prioritize our plight and provide a lasting solution to the water shortage. We urge the municipality to take immediate action to address the situation and ensure that we have access to clean and safe drinking water. Until then, the residents of Laersdrift will continue to face this daily struggle, a stark reminder of the work still to be done in ensuring that all South Africans have access to basic human rights,” she said.

.Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) Spokesperson, Lemson Moropjane, said they are aware of the water shortage in Laersdrift, adding that the district municipality is developing underground water sources to mitigate the challenge.

“The root cause of the water shortage, however, is the location of the village. The settlement has no formal infrastructure for bulk services. Our long term plan is to draw bulk water from de-hoop,” he said.

Moropjane indicated that in the interim, and as an emergency measure, the municipality has implemented a water borehole system, with two boreholes been installed and are functional