Elmon Tshikhudo
Residents from villages around the Nandoni Dam who have been deprived of clean water for over six months say if they are not provided with clean drinking water, then no one else will be.
On Sunday, a group of residents who live around the dam outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo ordered the staff at the purification plant to leave their posts, took the keys and locked the gates.
The closure of the main purification plant meant there would be no water in the whole of Thohoyandou.
The protestors say that they have been without water for the last six months, and claim that it is being transported to far away places throughout the Vhembe District instead of their own homes.
They have attempted to engage the Vhembe district municipality, which is the local water authority, through meetings and letters but that has not borne any positive feedback.
Fed up with the empty promises, angry residents came up with a method of protest that would get the attention of the authorities.
Since the incident took place, locals have been forced to share unpurified water with animals at rivers.
Nandoni Dispute Resolutions chairperson Solomon Baloyi said residents are tired.
“We stay here nearby but we are the worst affected when it comes to water supply. We do not get water here and bear in mind we sacrificed our homes and fields for this dam to be constructed,” he said.
Baloyi argues that the residents had no other choice but to stage such a drastic protest, as they had already attempted every legal path to no avail.
“Residents decided on closing the main purification plant for all to feel what we are feeling. The plant will not open until they do something for us,” Baloyi said.
Steven Mathoma of Shayandima said they have had no water for the whole week and had to buy from those with boreholes.
Vhembe district municipality spokesperson Matodzi Ralushai confirmed the supply of water at the plant had been compromised.
“We know residents have problems but closing the plant is not the way to go. We are having meetings with the different stakeholders and we hope a solution will be found soon,” he said.
