The issue of service delivery in the Malamulele area has reached boiling point, with lots of damage caused in the quest for an own municipality.

Villagers who have been protesting, continue to suffer and are crying as they have acute water shortages in the area. Villagers from Shigalo, Basani, Nyavani Mphakati have to risk their lives and mix with cows and donkeys in search of drinking and washing water in the tributaries of the Luvuvhu river.

Earlier this week, Limpopo Mirror witnessed an unusual scenario where hundreds of villagers swarmed the river, some doing washing and some drawing drinking water from the river. They have travelled many kilometres on foot from their own villages to the river.

Villagers say they do not have any choice but to venture into the dangerous water as there is no water in the villages. Gogo Tsakani Makhubele (72) of Basani village says that they are suffering as they have to walk for several kilometers to the river to do washing and collect water. “We drink the same water that’s being drunk by our animals,” says Makhubele.

Another villager from Shigalo says that there are people who can afford to hire cars to collect the river water for them and says that there is no much difference because the water is dirty.

“The river is too far, but if you can’t afford to pay for transport to get you water, you have to walk over five kilometers, pushing a wheelbarrow with drums of water,” said the villager.

The sight of huge, deadly crocodiles floating on the water does not deter them. Resident Mpho Shiburi says that many crocodiles have been spotted in the river. “We have no option but to come here every day, even if it means risking our lives. We just need water,” she says.

She says the water pump in her village should have been repaired long ago, but the municipality is turning a blind eye to their problem, which is making life very difficult for them. “It has been almost three months without water in this area and it seems our municipality does not give a damn as they never update us about what is happening; this is sickening,” she adds.

Vhembe municipality spokesperson Matodzi Ralushai says that a pump that supplies the villages with water needs to be replaced. He says they are doing all in their power to make water available in the villages.