Picture: One of the residents draws water from a well in Takaneng village/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
Water continues to be a challenge at Takaneng village, near Taung. This comes after the borehole that supplies water to the community at large collapsed.
One of the community members, Kagiso Mapedi said, the dysfunction of the borehole impacted negatively to the persistence of water shortages in their area. Mapedi urges the municipality and Magalies Water to fix it.
“We cannot continue to live like this. Actually, this is a violation of human rights because is been a year since we could have access to clean and drinkable water. The borehole has collapsed and we cannot get water anywhere, except from the well.
“So, with the cholera outbreak in the country, we do not know if is safe to drink that water. More than 30 people have died from this disease, so this creates anxiety among us. We have informed the municipality to come and repair the damaged borehole,” he said.
The executive mayor of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Motseokae Maje said: “I can attest that, we are aware of the water challenges the residents in Takaneng village are faced with. However, we had a consultative engagement with the Magalies Water to attend to them.”
The Magalies Water spokesperson, David Magae said, they have been made aware of water supply challenges in the area. Magae further said the maintenance-related challenges were part of the challenge(s) that affected the residents.
“For some time, residents could not have access to potable water as a result of a collapsed borehole, which was rendered non-operational as a result. Work is currently underway in repairing the borehole, which will not immediately be recommissioned as it had been offline for a prolonged period.
“Furthermore, water quality tests will also be undertaken in order to ensure that, the water source is safe for human consumption before the borehole can be fully recommissioned for service to the community. Currently, the community is receiving water through tankering as an interim measure,” he said.
Magae added that having received a number of water complaints from municipalities within the district including the recently reported cholera outbreak, Magalies Water undertook numerous steps in debunking any suspicion about the quality of water that is supplied.
Meanwhile, the North West Premier, Bushy Maape said: “In our quest to address the water challenges in the province, we have established the provincial steering committee co-chaired by the Premier and the Minister of Water and Sanitation.
“The steering committee has finalised a provincial plan to address water challenges in the following identified “water hotspots areas”, which are Ditsobotla, Tswaing, Ramotshere Moiloa, Naledi, Mamusa, Maquasi Hills and Matlosana. We will soon be launching operation “Bulela Metsi” in these areas.”
The Guardian 