Locals who say they’ve had enough, joined hands this morning and set out to protest against the poor service delivery by the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality. Reports suggest that the municipality’s water supply to the town was cut off from Sedibeng Water following the municipality’s massive water debt to the water board. OFM News spoke to a resident in the area, Michelle Opperman, who explained the gravity of the situation in the town.

“It’s very desperate. Children don’t have drinking water, parents can’t bath their children and even old people don’t have water. It’s not just in one area but the entire Olifantshoek area. The mayor is telling us different stories every day and people are desperate. It’s going to get violent. The streets are burning and the town is closed. The Public Order Police have also threatened to start shooting people. We need help,” Opperman said.

Meanwhile, police spokesperson in the area, Sergio Kock, said police are on the scene. Questions will be sent to Sedibeng Water, which supplies water to the Gamagara Local Municipality, which is responsible for the area and falls under the said district municipality, for more clarity on why the community has had no water for over 28 days. OFM News will write a follow up article based on these responses.

OFM News