For the past four months, residents of the Maloka section in Ganalaagte have been without running water in their homes, forcing them to rely on a single, leaking steel water tank and wheelbarrows to collect water for their daily needs.
The community reports that taps have run completely dry, making basic tasks like laundry and cooking a significant challenge. The central water tank, which has become a last resort for the area, is itself compromised, with visible leaks further reducing the already scarce water supply.
Frustration is mounting among residents, who place the blame squarely on the Naka Modiri Molema District Municipality, the local water authority. They accuse the municipality of failing to maintain critical water infrastructure and are threatening public protests if the situation is not resolved promptly.
The plight of the community is severe, with one elderly woman describing the long distances she is forced to walk simply to access water, a basic human necessity.
In response to the crisis, municipal authorities have confirmed they are aware of the problem. A spokesperson for the municipality stated, “The storage facilities are leaking. We’re aware of it and we have already proactively initiated procurement processes.”
The spokesperson, citing advice from the municipal manager, indicated that the procurement procedures are expected to be finalized by this Friday. Following that, a service provider is slated to be deployed.
“Once exhausted by Friday next week the service provider will be on the ground and at that point we should be able to be resolving that problem of potholes,” the spokesperson said, likely referring to leaks or breaches in the water infrastructure. The municipality has committed to a two-week timeline to resolve the ongoing water crisis in Maloka.
