The rural communities of Mafukani near Matavhela in Mutale are up in arms about a local ward councillor, accusing her of taking clean water that is supposed to be given to communities for her personal use.

Furious community members claimed that Ward 7 councillor Ms Sylvia Thambatshira always instructed the water tank from the Vhembe District Municipality to fill her private boarding house’s tank, situated in Matavhela, thereby excluding them.

A community leader at Mafukani, Mr Robert Rakhadani, said communities were frustrated with the empty promises the councillor was giving them. “We were told that we would get clean water in our taps in May this year, but nothing happened. We learned reliably that the councillor’s boarding house has a water tank and she allegedly instructs the water truck to drive to her business, while the communities are suffering,” said Rakhadani.

At this stage, villagers at Mafukani are relying on the water from a fountain situated on top of the Mafukani Mountains and communities are not sure if the water is safe to use. A villager, Mr Lucas Thiba, said a serious water problem existed at Mafukani and, about eight years ago, some villagers collected money and bought water pipes and cement. They built their own small dam and are now relying on it as their only source of water.

Cllr Sylvia Thambatshira denied the allegations that she uses the water truck for her own benefit, instead of giving the water given to the communities. “I have applied for the installation of water from the local Mutale Municipality and I am paying for the water services that are used on my premises. We have now purchased a pump, which will not only benefit the Mafukani communities, but the whole of Ward 7's villages, such as Mufulwi, Ngalavhani, Gwangwatini and Ha-Mabila,” said Thambatshira.