Water crisis dries up D�Kar

Leinanyana Tsiane | Tuesday May 6, 2014 15:04

The crisis has crippled backyard gardens where potential produce has withered and died. Backyard gardens are a government initiative under which qualifying participants are equipped to set up vegetable gardens.

“As we speak, all the gardens have dried up and the plants have died,” he told Mmegi last week. “Government’s efforts to assist people have gone to waste because of the water situation,” said Kgosi Montshosi.  He said only a single borehole belonging to a San-people’s NGO, Kuru, supplies water to the village. But the borehole uses diesel to pump water and lack of funds to purchase the fuel has led to shortage. “It’s a sad situation for my people because water is a necessity for everyone,” he said, adding that, “Even today, we have not had a drop of water. Kuru people are trying to assist us but sometimes they do not have the money to buy diesel also.”

Montshosi said Kuru rents out offices and houses in D’Kar to raise funds for the diesel. However, the offices have been unoccupied of late, leading to the funds drying up. “The only other borehole belongs to the Gantsi District Council and it supplies the primary school only,” he said. He noted that, “There is a stand pipe next to the school which enables people living next to the school to secure enough water.” Montshosi said that presently, it is difficult for government to supply them with water because D’Kar is not government land but rather owned by Kuru. He said negotiations were ongoing between government and Kuru for the sale of the land.