Mopipi residents drink stinking water
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday May 17, 2017 09:00
In an interview with Mmegi, the chairperson of Mopipi Village Development Committee (VDC) Golesamang Mogolodi feared an outbreak of water borne diseases if the situation was not resolved soon.
“Since the beginning of April we have been faced with shortage of water and residents drink dirty water from quarries in the outskirts of the village. We are forced to remove animal carcasses and other dirt before drawing water to drink. Mokobaxane village, just 8km away used to rescue us, but is also faced with shortage of water,” Mogolodi said.
He said many of the residents in Boteti do not own motor vehicles making it difficult for them to fetch water from neighbouring villages.
He said last month water supplies in the village were abruptly cut without warning.
“The water comes for few days and then dries up for a long period of time and up to now there is no water and we don’t know when the supplies will resume. This is a worrying situation because people are forced to drink dirty water, something that puts their health at risk,” Mogolodi said.
Mogolodi urged Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to find a lasting solution to the now perennial water problems.
“The elderly, and the people who are living with disabilities are the most affected because they cannot walk to the quarries to fetch water,” Mogolodi said.
Reached for comment, WUC public relations officer Lorato Phuthe said water crisis in Mopipi and Mokobaxane is currently being attended to and will be stabilised in a few days.
“Our engineers are currently on the ground addressing the break down hence we are sorry for the inconvenience caused. I agree that we had a break down that lasted for a long period of time but I promise that the water crisis will be solved in no time,” Phuthe said.
Phuthe, however said they had communicated with the village leadership about the crisis well in time.