The DA in Limpopo has written to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to intervene over the severe water shortage in Makhado.
An oversight inspection of water infrastructure revealed that the CBD of Makhado and some of its residential areas have gone without water for three weeks, and at least 11 dysfunctional fire hydrants.
View photos here, here, here and video here.
The water crisis is largely as a result of the municipality’s failure to address the large water leaks all over the town, and to maintain ageing water infrastructure. The failure to supply regular and uninterrupted safe water has significantly affected residents but also businesses and economic activities in the area.
Makhado has many businesses that are struggling to secure business insurance from insurance companies because of fire hydrants that are dysfunctional due to a lack of maintenance or the water shortages. The fire hydrants in disrepair also pose a serious risk to the Community in the event of a fire disaster.
The DA has raised the issues of the severe water crisis, ageing and unmaintained water infrastructure and dysfunctional hydrants to the Makhado Local Municipality and it is clear they do not have the political will nor the expertise to ensure that the situation is rectified.
The DA will also write to MEC for COGHSTA, Basikopo Makamu, to intervene in this matter before services completely collapse and ensure that the people of Makhado have a regular supply of clean water and fire hydrants that work.
Residents of Makhado have a constitutional right to access to sufficient water and the DA is committed to ensuring that the water crisis in the municipality is urgently addressed.