Based on community members’ negative reaction to the speech by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, last Friday (15 March), it is clear that the Musina community has lost all faith in the ANC’s promises concerning water.
This follows the agreement entered into by South Africa and Zimbabwe last week whereby the Beit Bridge Water Treatment Works will supply Musina with a maximum of 15 million cubic metres of treated water per year.
Last Friday, a community meeting was held at the Musina Showgrounds with the aim of providing residents with feedback on the progress made with addressing the water supply challenges in the area.
The meeting forms part of the Department of Water and Sanitation’s annual National Water Month (March), and was attended by the Minister and his Deputies, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, along with several officials from the Vhembe District Municipality (Musina, Louis Trichardt).
The FF Plus’s local councillor, Mr Paul Herman, also attended the meeting.
Proceedings were interrupted and some members of the community refused to give speakers a chance to speak. One ANC speaker was forcibly removed from the stage.
Meanwhile, the FF Plus followed up on its complaint against Vhembe about the ongoing water problems with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and sent an official letter to the HRC’s senior legal officer, Mr Badantswana Munei, requesting urgent feedback on the legal procedures currently being followed.
The party will keep the pressure on and keep the community up to date with how the matter is progressing.
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