Copies of the ratepayers’ letter regarding the "dangerous situation with regard to water quality and sewage management" have been sent to 17 offices, including the office of President Thabo Mbeki and the National Minister of Provincial and Local Government.

The Soutpansberg Ratepayers Association (SRPA) said this week that they have received acknowledgement of receipt from nearly half of the recipients. Louis Trichardt’s municipal manager, Ms Faith Muthambi, to whom the original letter, dated October 8, was addressed, acknowledged receipt on October 23.

"… I will liaise with your office shortly, so that I can update you on the steps taken as well as to share with you the results of the investigation. In the meantime, I would like to assure you that the municipality values the lives of our residents and we will take all the steps to ensure that the lives of our residents are not compromised. We appreciate the steps you have taken in raising this issue with us and will revert to you urgently as promised," states Muthambi’s reply.

Mr Herman Smith, chairperson of the SRPA, said this week that they have not had the promised feedback and would welcome a face-to-face meeting with the municipal manager on the water and sewage issues. The SPRA is willing to propose remedies for the "highly explosive situation".

Concerning the forwarding of the letters right up to the top, the SRPA states in a press release dated November 5 that "this route became the only vehicle to get the attention of the Makhado Municipality".

Although Ms Muthambi gave guarantees of the safety of the water from the Albasini reticulation plant, the SRPA states that it is of great concern that she is "not mentioning anything regarding the contaminated borehole water, especially those close to the sewerage river at the southern side of Louis Trichardt and close to the dam at Tank E, that is contaminated with raw sewerage." The SPRA wants to be allowed to accompany those taking the water samples for the municipality.

How seriously the ratepayers regard the situation is reflected in their warning that the withholding of municipal rates and taxes would be considered should the municipality fail to resolve the problems to the satisfaction of the ratepayers. They warn that they will enforce their constitutional right to a healthy and protected environment through measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation.