Note to Broadcasters: Please find a linked soundbite in English by Freddy Sonakile MPL.
Residents of Magogoe Village in the Mahikeng Local Municipality approached the DA, requesting our assistance in their ongoing struggle to have their homes connected to the water supply network. Many residents paid roughly R4000.00 to the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality out of their own pockets for this service, yet to date, not a single connection has been made.
We previously wrote to the Municipal Manager (MM), Alan Losaba, demanding that the homes must either be connected to the water reticulation system and that residents should be reimbursed for the monies they’ve paid. MM Losaba responded, but never took any action to either connect residents to the water supply network or the reimbursements.
Several communal water tanks throughout Magogoe have been left dry for months, forcing residents to either walk long distances to access water or have to buy it at a high cost.
The district municipality’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Khumalo Molefe, then promised to address the Magogoe community on the water challenges but failed to show up. This left the mostly elderly residents disappointed and angry.
The DA took the plight of Magogoe residents to the North West Provincial Legislature and tabled a motion calling on the provincial government to intervene, however, even here the ANC-led government and its MECs showed little interest.
We then gave notice on 15 Feburay 2024 under Gatherings Act that we would march today, Friday, 15 March 2024, with Magogoe residents to the municipal offices to submit a memorandum to Mayor Molefe demanding his immediate intervention.
Unfortunately, we had to postpone the march because Mayor Khumalo delayed the application. He purposefully delayed providing confirmation that he will receive our memorandum or delegate another member of his executive do so. He only provided this confirmation yesterday afternoon, a day before we intended to march.
We will resubmit our notice to the district municipality to march with Magogoe residents. Mayor Khumalo must be ashamed for treating elderly residents with such contempt.
Access to water is a constitutional right and the district is shamelessly violating this right of the Magogoe community.
A DA government will prioritise funding for water infrastructure maintenance and encourage private investment in water infrastructure projects to ensure that all communities have access to clean and safe water.
This year, residents have the opportunity to vote for the DA to rescue South Africa from the ongoing water crisis brought on by the ANC government.
A vote for the DA is a vote for continuous access to clean running water.
