By BAKANG MOKOTO
The issue of water shortages continues to be a challenge to many villages across Taung. The residents from Tamasikwa, Manokwane, Manthe, Maphoitsile and other surrounding villages in Taung said they have over six months without receiving proper drinkable water.
A social activist, Eddie Mogorwe from Manokwane village said, residents had to resort to alternative sources such as wells and furrows to get water. He said it is heart-breaking to find people still being subjected to this kind of abuse even after 27 years of democracy.
“Our taps run dry and not even a single drop of water comes out. Now, our reliability of water is from wells and furrows which are of poor quality. We urge our government to do away with the decentralization of water management as monitoring of both water supply and water use are essential measures.
“As we speak, we have Taung Dam but we still continue struggling with provision of water. I believe that there must be a tailor-made approach to each municipality for provision of safe and drinkable water in each village,” he said.
Another resident from Tamasikwa village who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “We will highly-appreciate it, if we have access to basic drinkable water. We are now forced to share water with animals from the nearby river.
“Why is it so difficult for the government to do monitoring and evaluation of the water? Now, we are not sure who to talk to because our plea just falls in deaf ears. It seems our government officials forgot that water has now become a key element since we have COVID-19 in our midst.”
Meanwhile, the North West Premier Bushy Maape who addressed the Exco Planning Lekgotla held at Taung Hotel School and Convention Centre in Taung on Tuesday said the Accelerated Service Delivery Plan is in full swing.
“Well, on Friday, we will be speaking about our plans for this year. What it is that we are going to do. Generally, we will take the cue from the Cabinet Lekgotlha and State of the National Address (SONA).
“I think the State of the Province Address (SOPA) will address and indicate what we are going to deal with. The address will cover many service delivery issues and remember, the North West is a water scarce province,” he said.
Maape further said an inter-departmental committee on water challenges has been set up and continues to meet regularly. He added that the provincial government recently held a three-day session with the Department of Water and Sanitation and this is aimed at finding solutions to challenges of water provision in the province.
The Guardian 