The continuous lack of water in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) has residents fuming.

The general consensus is that enough is enough. For more than a week now, many residents have not received a drop of water and even when water was available, it was so muddy that it could hardly be used.

Due to the pressure from a community whose patience has been sorely stretched, the local AfriForum branch took a decision last Friday during and emergency meeting to start with legal proceedings against the Vhembe and Makhado municipalities for contempt of court. This was confirmed by Mr Werner Human, AfriForum’s attorney.

“It is, however, premature to say whether we shall go to court. We are awaiting instructions from AfriForum Head Office,” Human said per email on Monday.

The Northern Gauteng High Court had already ordered the municipalities in October last year to supply water to the residents. “We cannot continue with the constant delays, missed deadlines and excuses,” said Mr Wally Schultz, local chairman of AfriForum.

In the meantime, bathing in a plastic basin or saving the evening’s bath water for flushing the toilet or washing floors the next day has become somewhat of a way of life for Ms Pat Menne of Extension 7, even though she eventually acquired a water tank, which gets filled up by the water tankers.

On Tuesday, however, no water tanker had a drop of water available for suffering residents. Upon questioning one of the drivers of these tankers, the Zoutpansberger was informed that they had only received one “load of water” that day and that there was nothing left.

Reports were also received that some residents are allegedly resorting to stealing water from other residents’ water tanks.  Ms Marietjie van Zyl, living in the new extension, told the Zoutpansberger that someone must have emptied their water tank.

“We had water in our tank on Sunday and Monday morning. By early Monday afternoon there was no water left in our tank and there was no one at home to use water,” Van Zyl said and added that the lack of water was driving her up the wall.

“I really feel like moving away from this town. I want water. I want to bath my 18-month-old son. There is a lot of washing with a baby, and to do all our washing at a Laundromat is costing us R250 every time we go; we need to wash at least three times per week,” Van Zyl said.

Mr Zwanga Madia of Kock Street said that they could not afford to buy a water tank, since they had to pay the municipality every month for water that they did not get. “We have to ask other people for water, and it is not fair to them. The municipality are the ones who should deliver the services,” Madia said.

Even those who usually fill their water tanks with municipal water to ensure some kind of continuous water supply are finding their tanks empty. “Now we are forced to buy drinking water. At the same time, there were some heavy rains and dams are full,” Mr Thusani Raphalani of new town said.

The Vhembe District Municipality’s spokesperson, Mr Matodzi Ralushai, was asked why there was no water in town. Ralushai responded by SMS on Tuesday evening.

“The water supply improved today as more than 70% is being pumped. The situation is getting better. We acknowledge that some areas are still faced with a challenge,” Ralushai said. What this challenge entails, is not clear.

In the meantime, waterless residents must apparently continue to phone the municipality to get water. Earlier last year, the municipality indicated that Mr David Mukhosi of the Makhado Municipality can be contacted on 082 941 8171 to request a water tanker; that is, if there is any water to put in the tanker. On Tuesday, enquiries were referred to one of the drivers on 084 355 5120. Another municipal official, who does not want to be identified, said that 180 calls about water had been received by one official in two days.