Nearly halfway through the ultimatum of 90 days to supply water, the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) is confident that they are winning the battle to restore the constant water supply to the community of Makhado (Louis Trichardt).

Another victory that has been won is that of maintaining trust, despite a court order with the ominous possibility of a prison sentence for contempt of court.

On 17 May, AfriForum obtained a second court order from the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria against the municipal manager (MM) of the VDM in person, ordering the MM to see to it that his municipality comply with the first court order within 90 working days. The 90 working days will expire on 26 September.

On 14 July (one day before day 40), VDM’s MM, Mr Masala Makumule, and the chairperson of AfriForum Louis Trichardt, Mr Wally Schultz, had a meeting. Both regarded it as a historic moment, due to their unique kind of co-operation.

“I am confident that Makhado town will continue getting water, even after the 90 days, because it is the responsibility of Vhembe as water service authority to provide water. I would especially like to mention the support that I got from the Minister who arranged additional funds, the support of our Vhembe executive mayor and the Makhado mayor. I want to thank Wally for his efforts and his trust and his leadership qualities. He does not just talk but visits all the problem areas,” said Makumule.

“I regard this as a historic arrangement between a civil organisation and a municipality. We have succeeded in remaining friends. Congratulations, Mr MM, David and Moses for getting us this close to our goal of bringing water to town and retaining our mutual trust, despite all the challenges,” said Schultz. All the while, the court order is there to bring the necessary urgency, but the partnership amidst all of that is regarded by the stakeholders as unique. Mr David Mukosi is VDM’s Makhado water superintendent, running around to attend to water and sewage problems, and Mr Moses Shibambu is of the communications officer, facilitating the complaints hotline on the AfriForum Louis Trichardt website.
Although the 90 days are only halfway, Makumule is encouraged by the promising readings of the levels of the reservoirs. VDM’s legal manager, Adv Dovhani Mulaudzi, who accompanied the MM, was proud to announce that, within a month after the issuing of the second court order, the reservoirs were full. “In the period between 10 and 16 June, we achieved 100%,” said Mulaudzi.

The four new boreholes in town are there to augment the water supply and at present only the one located near the testing station in Kort Street needs to be used.
Makumule further added that they plan to have spares for both the big and small pump at the Albasini water scheme. The large pump had recently been replaced at a cost of more than R620 000. He announced that a Water Operational Plan was being finalized.

The MM also thanked the community of Makhado (Louis Trichardt) for their patience and for not resorting to marches and rioting.