By BAKANG MOKOTO
Pupils from Cokonyane village in Taung and surrounding areas were left stranded after irate residents embarked on protest demanding the provision of water.
Residents allegedly burnt interim Jojo tanks that were meant to assist them with water shortages. According to some of the residents, it’s been over a year since they experienced the scourge of water shortages and they believe that ‘the use of tankering system benefits only connected few.’
One of the community leaders, Tshepo Kalamore said they embarked on a protest because the government is ignoring their call. He said they tried to engage various stakeholders such as the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District municipality and Sedibeng Water which is a service provider, but they have been sent from pillar to post.
“It is high time that the government takes us seriously. We cannot continue to live without the provision of water. Water is a basic need and it’s been over a year since we received quality water. Taps are dry and rusty, and we should pretend as if everything is normal?
“We do not want to prevent pupils to go to school, but we have no choice. We believe that injury to one is an injury to all. So, the status quo will remain until we get water,” Kalamore said.
Some pupils said the protest affected them because they lost two days of teaching and learning. However, the North West Education Department spokesperson, Elias Malindi said they condemn the use of school children by residents during protests.
“Yes, we are aware of the matter and call on residents to stop preventing pupils from going to school. Protests affect our progress because learners are missing out on teaching and learning. So, we urge our residents to refrain from that and raise their challenges through relevant channels. The department has a recovery plan, which we will roll out as soon as learners go back to school,” said Malindi.
North West province continues to experience service delivery protests. A month ago, angry residents from Austrey near Ganyesa allegedly destroyed the Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality offices a month ago, while demanding the construction of a tarred road on the road that links Ganyesa and Austrey.
However, North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro said during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) last week that a review of monthly unrest statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS) reveals a steady decline in violent protests in the province since the start of the intervention, with only six unrest incidents recorded in the province last month.
“This compares very favourably with statistics for January 2019, in which 26 unrest incidents were recorded and reflect a 15 fold decrease since the violence of April 2018 when police recorded 91 unrest incidents. The data shows that we are making significant progress towards becoming a stable and peaceful province, through our collective efforts.
“Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District is an important strategic agricultural area for the North West Province and has negatively been impacted by drought which threatens many people’s livelihoods,” Mokgoro said.
He added that in an effort to minimize the scourge of drought and general water shortage, they will build government borehole sighting, drilling and reticulation capacity aimed mainly at livestock watering provision with a further potential to assist with human drinking water where necessary.
The Guardian 