Residents of Makhado (Louis Trichardt) and surrounds can look forward to a brand new way of reporting their water and sewerage problems to the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) and AfriForum.

“In the past, people reported to various departments and officials, from the municipal manager right through to the truck driver. Responses were not co-ordinated, with the result they were either non-existent or duplicated. This plan is a way to cut out the current lack of communication and action and to co-ordinate the process,” said Mr Wally Schultz, chairperson of AfriForum Louis Trichardt. Key officials Mr Moses Shibambu, Vhembe’s media liaison officer, and Mr David Mukosi, Vhembe’s Makhado water services manager, agreed with Schultz on the implementation of the plan. 

So what is the plan? On the AfriForum Facebook page, a permanent post will be pinned for a complaint hotline. “Post your problem here. Describe it in as much detail as possible, giving an accurate location and contact phone number. A Vhembe official has been delegated to scan this post every day and he will note your complaint and details and send it to the relevant department for action. Vhembe will post their response and action on the complaint hotline for all to see,” said Schultz.

AfriForum has committed to monitor all posts and comments and do a follow-up to ensure that action is taken. The complaints hotline will allow AfriForum to track the progress on reported complaints. The hotline is expected to be operational by the end of the week or soon thereafter.

“We shall arrange for adverts on the radio to explain the new procedure of reporting,” said Shibambu.

Schultz urged residents to co-operate in a constructive way. “Please … No ‘What’s going on with the water today?’ Be specific about your problem. AfriForum has taken every single action available to force Vhembe to provide water … but be realistic, the pipes must still be repaired and leaks fixed. With your co-operation we can direct the municipality to problems more quickly and expect swift results,” said Schultz.