It is a Saturday morning and residents in Tshikota township, Makhado municipality, mainly women and children, are seen in the streets carrying empty 25-liter containers in search of water. In one of the busy streets, two children are pushing a wheelbarrow carrying a 25-liter container full of water. 

In the township, about 2 km east of Louis Trichardt town, some residents buy water from those who own boreholes or water vendors driving up and down the streets in bakkies, while others rely on solar-driven boreholes.

Thabang Tlou, secretary of the South African National Civic Organisation, says the township’s water challenges began a decade ago when water authority was handed over to Vhembe District Municipality.

“Our taps used to run well, but since Vhembe took over, we are not sure why the taps consistently run dry. At times, we have pipe bursts, but the municipality takes time to fix them, leaving residents without water for weeks,” Tlou tells Health-e News. 

It’s estimated that over 8,000 people live in Tshikota. In 2020, according to media reports, three boreholes were donated to the community. But residents still face water issues, saying the boreholes are not reliable. 

“I have been communicating with the municipality regarding the issue and also asked them to connect the boreholes to the main line. But this fell on deaf ears,” says ward councillor Dimakatso Sebola.

He says that he’s even gone to the extent of asking Wearne mine to assist. The mine donated a borehole in November 2023. 

 Schools in the area have dug their own boreholes. 

Women carry the burden

Tlou says he doubts that this was going to be addressed anytime soon. Meanwhile the burden falls on women. 

“The water challenge is mostly affecting women, as they are the custodians of families, and this to me is more of a form of women abuse. Some walk two kilometers pushing wheelbarrows,” he says. 

One of these women is 71-year-old Lilian Chihwindi, who has been living in this township for almost 20 years. She can no longer push a wheelbarrow, so she has to hire someone to fetch water for her from a vendor or one of the boreholes. 

“I pay R10 per trip, and each trip, the hired individual pushes a wheelbarrow that has 4 x 25-liter containers full of water,” says Chihwindi. 

On average, she and her four grandchildren need 300 litres of water per day for cleaning, flushing the toilet, and cooking. 

Chihwindi used to have running water in her yard. But she removed the tap three years ago as the taps were often targeted by thieves who steal the metal valves. 

Widespread issue 

Makhado’s water challenges aren’t restricted to Tshikota. The town of Louis Trichardt town and other surrounding rural villages in the Kutama Sinthumule area also face water shortages. 

Patrick Sikhutshi, chairperson of the Zoutpansberg Community Development Forum, says some residents in Kutama Sinthumule have now resorted to drilling boreholes themselves instead of waiting for the municipality to address the water issues. 

Dr Ferrial Adam, executive manager at Water Community Action Network or WaterCAN, says the lack of consistent water supply is an issue of neglect, specifically of rural areas. 

“When plans are put into place they are wrecked by corruption and mismanagement,” she says.

Adam highlights the Giyani Water Project that started in 2014 and is yet to be completed. The project is expected to supply water to Limpopo residents.

“Nearly a third of Limpopo residents still lack access to this basic human right, while corruption and mismanagement go unpunished. Someone should be held accountable. People need water, not empty promises. It’s time for jail, not just investigations,” says Adam.  

Many Limpopo residents rely on rivers and streams for their water needs, which poses health risks due to contamination, she says. 

“All ten municipalities responsible for water supply in Limpopo have been found to be failing in their duties due to poor budgetary spending and failure to utilise grants for water infrastructure.”

The Vhembe District Municipality didn’t respond to our media enquiry. – Health-e News