The Vhembe district municipality, which is the sole water provider in the district which comprises four local municipalities, namely Thulamela, Collins Chabane, Musina and Makhado, has received four water trucks and 132 water tanks which will be installed in villages currently experiencing water shortages.

The installation of the tanks has already started at Ha-Ramantsha villages, under Makhado local municipality, which is a welcome relief to local residents who have been experiencing water woes since the year 2000. Ward councilor Grace Matlodi says that residents walking for more than 4km daily to fetch water.

“From the year 2000, when the village residential sites were extended there was no water supply, forcing residents to walk for more than 4km to fetch water. We are very grateful for the installation of water tanks because elderly people and persons with disabilities were having serious challenges when it comes to the prevention of the coronavirus”, says Matlodi.

The executive mayor of Vhembe district, Dowelani Nenguda says that the water tanks will be supplied to all four local municipalities in areas where there is shortage of water. “These tanks will be used on a permanent basis until this area receives water from Nandoni dam or other water projects within the province. Thulamela will receive 37 tanks, Makhado will get 35 tanks, Musina will receive 35 while Collins Chabane will get 25 tanks”, says Nenguda.

He further says: “We request residents to wash their hands hence we are bringing water tanks and they must also take care of the tanks and protect them”. The National Department of Health and various global health organizations advise the public to regularly wash their hands for at least 20 seconds to help minimize the spread of Covid-19 virus. Earlier this week, Health-e News, reported on how residents of a rural village in Vhembe are practicing hygiene using limited water they have.

For many years, several villages within the Vhembe district have been faced with water shortages, this is despite the completion of multi-million Nandoni Dam, outside Thohoyandou. Lucy Kobe from the provincial department of water and sanitation in the province has appealed to communities to take care of the tanks as they are theirs. “We request community members to take care of the tanks, because they belong to them for now and in future. We have brought 132 water tanks and we will assess the situation to see if more tanks are needed, then we will add other tanks. Community members will no longer walk long distances because water will be next to them”, says Kobe. -Health-e News.

For more information on Covid-19 in South Africa, you can call the toll-free line on 0800 029 999, or you can send a message that says “Hi” on WhatsApp to the number 060 012 3456. You can also visit the SA Coronavirus website.