The Makhado Municipality’s municipal manager, Ms Faith Muthambi this week again reacted to a radio report on Tuesday that Louis Trichardt’s water is undrinkable, stating that such allegation are totally unfounded.

Two weeks ago, Muthambi came under severe criticism for stating that she was not aware of the town’s water and sewage crisis which has plagued residents for the past couple of years. She said this after a member of the Soutpansberg Ratepayers Association stated on national radio that the town’s water is not fit for human consumption after the dreaded E.coli bacteria were found in water samples tested at several key water points in the municipal area by the University of Venda. The situation was attributed to the chronic sewage spillages in town and the collapse of infrastructure at the town’s main water purification plant at the Albasini Dam.

As for this week’s radio report, Muthambi said: "There is no such thing. I also heard that it was announced over an Afrikaans radio station that the water in the Albasini Dam is undrinkable."

"DWAF (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry) is now testing the water for us on a daily basis and they say the water is fine," Muthambi said. She also mentioned that Council had sent away other water samples to a laboratory in Pretoria for further tests and are awaiting the results.

Muthambi said that, apart from DWAF, the Vhembe District Municipality also appointed a consultant to help address the situation.

"Everybody is involved to make sure we provide clean drinking water."

Muthambi also stated that, due to the seriousness of the matter, she had asked that Council should again look at the water and sanitation situation. During last week’s Council meeting, an item in this regard served before Council. Muthambi said she had already received another report on the town’s water and sanitation situation, indicating how much they will need in the short to long term to rectify the problems.

"We now have an action plan in place to address the issues," Muthambi said.

Apart from Muthambi’s reaction to the most recent radio report in regard to the town’s water, the municipality also issued a media statement on Wednesday, stating that they "wish to correct some of the media allegations.

"We wish to indicate that the water that flows in through the river will definitely have some form of E-coli. However, as water gets into the purification system, clean water comes out. This is the case with water that comes from the Albasini water treatment works. The results that the municipality have from credible institutions such as the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and National Health Laboratory Service indicate that the water is free from E.coli," the statement reads. It goes on to state that the municipality knows there are many challenges facing them with regard to water and sanitation (spillages) due to rapid development in the area and a lack of the municipality’s infrastructure to cope, but as a municipality they always ensure that the water delivered is fit for human consumption.