TEMPERS ran high and chaos erupted during a community meeting in Seshego outside Polokwane, Limpopo on Thursday night, 21 September.
During the meeting, which was called by Polokwane Mayor John Mpe to discuss service delivery issues, especially the water crisis, gatvol residents were ready to fight, demanding clean running water.
This comes after residents spent over five months without water, forcing those who don’t have boreholes to rely on water tankers.
Mpe had his hands full trying to calm the angry residents as they disrupted the meeting before it could even begin by singing struggle songs.
The meeting had to start an hour later due to the disruptions and the police had to intervene. Residents demanded answers as to why they are not getting water while dams are full.
Mpe told residents that the municipality has a deficit of 30 megaliters of water per day, but have projects that will help solve the problem.
“We had a meeting with Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu to approve a budget for the Seshego treatment plant which we started in 2019,” he said.
He said Mchunu agreed to approve the project.
“So, we had an urgent council meeting where we decided to redirect some funds to continue with the project while waiting for the minister to approve the budget. Once he approves, we will return the money we redirected,” he said.
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Mpe said the constructor is already on site to complete the project and that the plant will be commissioned in October 2023.
“The plant will then supply Seshego with 10 megaliters per day and I promise residents that they will start getting water in November 2023,” he said.
Resident Malose "Ntxotxo" Thembo (47) said they believe this is the last time they are having a meeting concerning water shortages.
“If we don’t get water, everything will come to a standstill and Seshego will burn. We cannot continue relying on water tankers. Some madalas, gogos and people living with disabilities can’t carry buckets,” he said.
Mosima Ngwepe (56) said the municipality should stop other projects and redirect funds to solve the water crisis.
