Sunday, May 1, 2016

Water Crisis in Senekal Plea for Help

Today, the community of Senekal in the Free State, under the Setsoto Municipality have pleaded with South African businesses and individuals to drop off the water at selected points.
18 Mercury Street, Farramere, Benoni – (Over weekends)
28 Fairchild Street, Impala Park, Boksburg – (Monday to Friday after hours)

A request is made to mark containers for “safety of drinking water” and “cleaning or washing only.”

The community has made arrangements to collect and transport the water to desperate residents in the Senekal area.

The Senekal district has run out of the water, and one can only imagine how devastating it must be to have no water. The main water crises are from the recent drought experienced in South Africa.
However, it is not only the drought that is the leading cause of this area not having sufficient supplies; corruption is another factor.

May 30, 2015, the Setsoto Municipality received ZAR18 million and spent the money on a 10-megalitre reservoir. The refurbishing of the water purification plant was repaired to ensure water was pumped directly into the Tatane Township. Residents still complained about inconsistent water supply.

During 2011 and 2012 there were serious protests against the water supply to residents. June 2011 – The Setsoto Municipality was described as totally unstable because of widespread theft, fraud, and corruption.

The official website of the Setsoto Municipality posted an update on the water crisis during September 2015. We appeal to the residents to start using the little water at our disposal sparingly, immediately. Activities such as watering gardens and car washing must be halted to lengthen the supply of water to all residents.

February 2016 water supply restored however restrictions were still in place. In April this year, the Setsoto Municipality was voted the best performing municipality in the Free State. The Setsoto Municipality is dominantly under the African National Congress (ANC) government. Why is there still a water crisis?
By Laura Oneale
South Africa Today – South Africa News
 May 1, 2016
 http://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/water-crisis-senekal-plea-help/

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