THE water crisis in Seshego, just outside Polokwane, Limpopo, remains critical following a recent shutdown.
On Thursday, 4 April, residents initiated a total shutdown, stopping operations in shops, schools, and other sectors, demanding access to water, flat rates, and an end to load shedding in their area.
Despite operations resuming, the community still faces a severe water shortage and is escalating their efforts to compel the Polokwane Municipality to address the issue.
Community leader Malose Thembo revealed plans to unite with neighbouring villages Ga-Matlala, Mashashane, Moletji, and Ga-Maja, who are facing similar challenges.
He said they'd plan a march to Premier Stan Mathabatha’s office on Monday, 29 April, to hand over a memorandum of grievances.
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Thembo expressed frustration to Daily Sun over the lack of response from Mayor John Mpe to their repeated attempts to talk to him.
"Our grievances are continually ignored, impacting the poor the most," he said.
"We cannot always complain about one thing because this issue of water shortage should have been resolved a long time ago. Our gogos and madalas who live alone are suffering because they can't fetch water from tankers. Pupils go to school without bathing and with dirty clothes because they can’t wash them," he said.
The community's patience is wearing thin after enduring ovebasicr a year without a reliable water supply.
The scarcity severely affects the elderly and schoolchildren, who struggle with hygiene and laundry due to the lack of water.
Thomas Maifo (40) said he was tired of the municipality's empty promises. He said their water infrastructure was deteriorating, and they pipes frequently leaked.
In contrast, Mayor John Mpe, in his infrastructure development plan budget, assured that the municipality was implementing strategies for a sustainable water supply, emphasising the importance of water for the city's prosperity.
"No city can thrive without a sustainable supply of water. Hence, we will stay on course to implement our short-term, medium, and long-term measures to deal with water deficit," he said.
