During a Legislature oversight inspection to water scarce areas, we visited Mmukubyane in Moretele this week and discovered that their plight for clean, running water has still not been answered.
Subsequent to former President Zuma’s visit to Ngobi in 2012, a R13 million water reservoir was constructed and boreholes were drilled, but his promise that these villages, which included Mmukubyane, will never run dry, was short lived.
From our engagements with residents, it transpired that some of the boreholes in Mmukubyane are non-functional and no attempts for restoration has been made.
Mmukubyane forms part of Ward 4 in Moretele and the residents have to travel about 16km to Ngobi just to get water. It is simply unconscionable that over 900 households have to travel all that way, often to no avail.
It is further outrageous that the special water distribution plan for the lockdown period does not include these areas.
To this end, the DA will write to the MEC for Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Gordon Kegakilwe, requesting urgent distribution of water to Moretele and provide reasons why the village was not included in the lockdown emergency water supply plan.
Our attempts to contact the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Technical Services, Councillor Motsepe, was fruitless, as he evaded our queries by questioning the legitimacy of our visit. This speaks of a total disregard for our constitutional mandate to conduct oversight as Members of the Provincial Legislature.
It is inexcusable that, 26 years into democracy, communities are still without running water. The DA will not relent in its fight to ensure that every citizen of North West has access to clean water.