By OBAKENG MAJE
Residents of Kolong village, near Taung and other neighbouring areas said they are ‘sick and tired’ of empty promises. The residents who depicted the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Infrastructure at Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, Pico Seepamere as a liar, alleged that, is been months without provision of water.
During a consultative engagement with Seepamere and Batlhaping Baga Phuduhucwana in Kolong on Wednesday, they alleged that, since Seepamere promised them Jojo tanks, but vanished in the thin air.
One of the irked residents, Maserame Magare said it seems the municipality does not take them seriously. Magare alleged that the officials who visited them kept on changing their tune and that is unfair.
“We did not get the water and the water truck came only once. Actually, Seepamere was not the person that we expected to see here because he is a liar. Every time when we need answers, the municipality brings Seepamere, who is untrustworthy.
“He promised to test the water from the borehole that needed to be refurbished, but he also failed. Now, he is telling us that the water from that borehole might not be enough or contaminated. So, we need Magalies Water to come and explain themselves to us,” she said.
Magre further alleged that Seepamere has divided the community because of his lies. She added that what they need is water and nothing else.
Another peeved resident, Obakeng Molale shared the same sentiments. Molale said it has been seven years without drinkable and clean water in their area.
“It was heart-breaking when I saw a child who was nearly being knocked down by a passing vehicle in Ranstad, simply because she was pushing a wheelbarrow looking for water which is a necessity.
“All the taps are dry and it seems our government does not care. We request the officials to ensure that they keep their promise by delivering more water through tinkering. They should also ensure that he brings those Jojo tanks he promised us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Seepamere said: “The municipality has a responsibility to ensure that the community gets water. In the past three weeks, we were here with hydrologists and they have identified where we can find water. They have given us three streams and all of them are around 0.3% because of the landscape.
“So, most boreholes will not produce enough water to cater for the whole community or the water might be contaminated. We understand the frustration our people are going through, but their constitutional rights force us to give them quality drinkable water.”
He said they have found Jojo tanks from Schweizer Reneke and they will deliver them to Kolong to assist in curbing lack of provision of water. According to Seepamere, they have also delivered a water truck, where it will distribute 18 000 litres of water to the community.
“Our existing infrastructure is not capable of pumping enough water and distributing it to high-lining areas. So, I promise our people that, from now on, they will receive water uninterrupted. We will also ensure that we monitor the situation. I would also like to apologise to the residents and we will ensure that they get water on time,” he said.
TaungDailyNews 