Borehole for a thirsty community

The Vhembe Water Drilling Project handed over a borehole to the thirsty community of Tshirolwe in the Nzhelele area a fortnight ago. The event was witnessed by a few people, all of whom were complying with the Covid-19 rules and regulations.

The managing director of Vhembe Water Drilling and Project, Mr Velaphi Nemafhahoni, said giving back to the people who supported him was important. He said they were working with the chiefs, different structures, and municipalities who were affected by the national lockdown. He urged people to come on board and donate if they could.

He said it had become a tradition at his company to plough back a certain percentage of their income into the communities where they operated. He said it was the right of the people to have water during the Covid-19 pandemic where all the people must always wash their hands with water to fight the dangerous pandemic.

A civic member, Mr Nthambeleni Murada, said that the community was relieved after many years of struggling without water. “This is to ensure that the community has access to clean water, a key ingredient in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus. For years now, members of the community were forced to pay R5 per 20-litre container to people with boreholes.”

Chief Mulatedzi Sinthumule said he was excited and happy that his people were getting clean water. “Our people have been thirsty for a long time. We have tried many times to engage the government. We know many communities have the same challenges we have here. With us, all this is now history as our people will have clean water,” he said.

He urged the community to take care of the borehole. He is concerned about people who vandalise or tamper with boreholes. “I am appealing to everybody in the community to safeguard the borehole, because some people are targeting the borehole. I am going all out, and I will use the few resources I have to take my community out of poverty,” he said.

Vhembe Executive Mayor Dowelani Nenguda said the Vhembe Water Drilling Project had bailed them out by providing water to the community. “We can now walk tall, knowing that our people have water to drink. We are very thankful,” he said. He promised that the community would take care of the gift.

The event was also blessed by bishop MG Muhali from High Grace church.

News in brief - Date: 14 August 2020

Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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