Constant load-shedding has resulted in a water crisis for more than 300,000 residents of Mogalakwena municipality in Limpopo, who have been left high and dry because of inactive water pumps.
For the past few weeks residents from 179 villages around Mokopane have been relying on trucked water, while others have been buying it from a shop after their taps ran dry. The municipality blames the situation on power cuts that have affected their ability to use their water pumps to transfer water from the dam to the reservoirs before it goes to households.
“We have been having water shortages for a while but load-shedding has exacerbated our water problem. Because there is less load-shedding at night we then pump water only at night to the reservoir but it also runs out quickly and that's when we'd send our water truckers to the communities,” said Malesela Selokela, divisional head of communications at the municipality.
Abel Maluleka, 28, who operates a car wash in Mokopane, said he has been struggling to make ends meet and to support his son since the water shortages.
On a normal day he is able to wash eight to 10 cars and he charges R70 per vehicle. He makes more than R560 per day but with the water shortages he is only able to wash about five vehicles.
“When water is not available I buy water, which inconveniences me a lot and I am unable to make a profit.
“Water is a serious problem in our area. We are used to going a few days without water. It has turned into a normal thing because even the municipality no longer updates us when water won’t be available,” added Selokela.
Kwena Laka, 28, of Phola Park, said in some areas there was only one tap that worked.
“It really affects us a lot because there will be long queues that causes delays to our day-to-day house chores like doing laundry and others that require water,” said Laka, adding that it is really sad that children as young as 10 have to run back and forth with water drums.
“They don’t even get a chance to enjoy their childhood as they have to make means of survival. Water is life; the city is really failing us,” she said.
Mark Scalse, 52, founder of a waste recycling company, said he relied on his borehole for water due to the supply problems in the area.
“I had to buy four large water tanks and drill a borehole that cost me about R60,000, including installations,” said Scalse.
He added that a lot of people from townships came to get water from him.
“Boreholes are more reliable but the problem is that most people from disadvantaged families aren’t able to afford them as they cost quite a lot,” said Scalse.
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