Ongoing evidence of irregularities in the Makhado Municiplaity, and negligence on the part of councillors to attend to numerous public complaints, have continued to surface during the past two weeks.

The situation has also strengthened the belief that the national government is considering the creation of interim management structures to run the affairs of this council.

The possibility of drastic intervention by the government was raised in an article in the town's local newspaper on 8 April, in which a number of startling facts were exposed. After reading the newspaper report, a resident lodged a complaint at the Democratic Alliance's office in the town, and his grievances were found to be fully justified.

The DA found that many houses in the Waterval area have been without water metres for the past 10 years. It was also established that many people with water metres in their homes had been receiving statements which never reflected any payments.

"People in Block C, as well as parts of a section with old two-roomed houses, receive water on Thursdays and Sundays. According to a resident in this community, the water shortage problem has prevailed for many years," said the DA's Kenny Maboho.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that similar unsatisfactory conditions prevailed in the Vleifontein community, with water only available there for three hours each morning and evening respectively, despite the fact that a large dam had been built to replace several corrugated reservoirs.

In response to inquiries, a municipal spokesperson said water was leaking out of the dam, due to a crack. He confirmed that this problem had recurred ever since the new dam started to supply water to the community. Residents said they had often been without water for several weeks at a time, but nothing was ever done about fixing the dam permanently.

As we went to press, a statement on the current situation was still being awaited from the Limpopo Department of Provincial Affairs and Local Government. No confirmation regarding a possible government takeover of municipal management structures could be obtained from the national department.