A disused quarry, filled with murky water and discarded diapers, has become a desperate alternative water source for residents of Gannalagte village in the Tswaing Local Municipality, following five months of dry taps.
The water crisis, caused by reported blockages in the pipes carrying water to homes, has forced residents to risk their health by collecting water from the filthy site. Women, some with babies on their backs, can be seen making the treacherous journey to fetch water for their families.
“We throwing [diapers] here for the babies. We throwing the dirt here,” said one resident, highlighting the contamination of the quarry. “The shortage of water did push us back here to come fetch this dirty water.”
The situation has reignited deep-seated frustration in the community. The resident added, “Because the last time all the medias were here, I thought this story of coming back here is long time buried. Now the shortage of water, it did bring us back here.”
While municipal water tankers provide a cleaner source, they are not a welcome solution for many. Residents gathered at a local reservoir, which they say holds sufficient water, to protest what they see as a temporary fix to a permanent problem.
“We don’t need water tanks here,” a community member stated firmly. “We have already our water. We have enough water to supply us in the village. So we need the government to come and assist us so that we can get water at the stand… If a tank is coming here, we are going to burn it because we have our own water.”
The financial burden of the crisis is also taking a toll on residents who cannot rely on the quarry or distant tankers. One woman explained the severe hardship, saying, “I’m buying water. I’m buying water 10 rand for 20 liters. 10 rand whereby I don’t work. I’m getting 350 [as a grant]. How can I use 350 for a bucket of water?”
Authorities have acknowledged the water challenges in the area. A spokesperson for the municipality confirmed the core issue, stating, “There is an issue of leaking reservoirs. We are aware and we are busy with the supply chain process and procurement to ensure that services of maintenance are resuming.”
However, this bureaucratic response offers little comfort to a community that has heard similar promises before. The spokesperson noted that water was briefly restored during community engagements, but “within a blink of an eye, it was back to the unfortunate reality,” leaving residents once again dependent on a contaminated quarry for their most basic need
