Motlhabe Community Uses and drinks unsafe, dirty Water

Goitsemodimo GABORONE

Residents of Motlhabe village continue to face serious water challenges, with many families relying on unsafe and dirty water for their daily needs. For years, the community has struggled with a lack of reliable running water, forcing residents to depend on water delivered by water trucks.

However, these water trucks often arrive only once every few months, leaving residents without a dependable water source. The water supplied is often dirty, discolored, and contains visible particles. Families use this water for drinking, cooking, washing, and other household activities because they have no alternative. Many residents have reported suffering from skin irritation after bathing in the water, while others have experienced diarrhea and other health problems believed to be linked to its poor quality. The situation is particularly difficult for children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

When the water trucks fail to arrive, many elderly residents are forced to buy water using their limited pension money. This often leaves them with little or no emergency funds for the rest of the month. Community members say they should not have to choose between buying water and meeting other basic needs.

Despite years of complaints and promises from local authorities, the water crisis continues. Although water tanks have been provided in some areas, they are often insufficient to meet the needs of the growing population.

Access to clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right that is enshrined in our South African Constitution. Residents of Motlhabe are calling on authorities, including the Local Municipality, to urgently provide a reliable water supply and end a crisis that continues to affect the health, dignity, and quality of the community life, but nothing has changed.