Concerned residents of Tiyani village in the Hlanganani area and the surrounding villages, which includes Olifantshoek, were afforded the opportunity to raise service delivery challenges facing them during an imbizo organised by the Makhado Municipality at the Nkanyani Primary School´s sports grounds last Saturday.

Like other areas in the Vhembe District, the residents voiced their concerns over the lack of water supply, electricity and the poor condition of roads.

"It is very difficult to survive without such an important basic need as fresh drinking water. We understand that there are so many things which the Makhado Municipality have done for us in the past, but this time we need water," said one of the concerned residents of Tiyani, Ms Amukelani Mabunda. She said the residents could survive driving on a damaged road, but "we can not survive without fresh drinking water."

Members of the Rotterdam taxi association said their taxis were destroyed by the bad condition of the roads. According to Mr Eric Mahlaule, they tried to buy new taxis for the people, but before they could even finish paying for them, the vehicles were damaged because of the condition of the roads.

The event was addressed by the mayor of the Makhado municipality, Cllr Mavhungu Luruli, who left her busy schedule to meet with the concerned residents. Luruli acknowledged that she understood how difficult life was for the residents without water. She said she was quite sure that as soon as the Nandoni bulk water project was completed, water problems in the area would be addressed. "Together with the district municipality, we are spending sleeples nights trying to resolve the issue of water. It is not only Tiyani village where there is no water, but other areas across the district are also affected and as government we will soon address the problem," she said.

One of the critical challenges raised by the residents during the event was the fact that they did not have a Home Affairs office in the area. This means that they have to travel long distances to Elim in order for them to get IDs, birth certificates etc.