Water woe, Makhuduthamaga Municipality employees suffer

JANE FURSE

Employees at the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality (MLM) offices in Jane Furse are speaking out about the dire water shortage that has plagued the offices for years.

Despite the municipality’s efforts to provide basic services to the community, its own staff members are forced to endure substandard working conditions due to the lack of water supply.

The municipality office relies on water tanker trucks to meet its water needs, and staff members are often required to bring their own water from home because the supply is insufficient.

The situation has become so dire that the flushing toilets are not working, and staff members are forced to use a pit latrine, which is a subject of concern regarding hygiene and sanitation.

According to sources, staff members have been complaining to the municipality’s management for years, but nothing has been done to address the issue.

This is despite the fact that MLM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the water authority, Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM), in the previous financial year to carry out water and sanitation repair and maintenance work on its own.

The MoU also included repairing the water reticulation network and re-drilling boreholes, but it appears that the municipality is unable to provide clean water to its own headquarters in Jane Furse.

Staff members are alleging that the municipality is prioritizing the interests of service providers over their own needs, potentially due to corrupt activities and looting of public funds.

The allegations suggest that the municipality may be using the water shortage as a pretext to benefit service providers through inflated contracts or other forms of corruption, which would be a gross abuse of power and a betrayal of the public trust.

Further allegations have emerged that senior politicians within the Sekhukhune District Municipality may have influenced a Memorandum of Understanding between the municipality and Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality to benefit from water tankering contracts.

The situation raises questions about the municipality’s commitment to providing basic services to its employees and the community it serves.

“It is unacceptable that we can’t even get basic services like water in our own office. It is like we are not valued as employees,” noted one of staff members.

The employees urged the municipality’s leadership to take immediate action to address this issue and ensure that workers have access to basic necessities like water and sanitation.

The employees said a thorough investigation into these allegations is necessary to determine the extent of any wrongdoing and to hold those responsible accountable.

“The investigation should examine the municipality’s procurement processes, contract awards, and financial management practices, as well as the role of senior politicians in influencing the MoU,” said an employee.

When contacted for a comment, MLM Spokesperson, Thomas Mashabela, couldn’t respond to the publication’s enquiries.