Bushbuckridge Local Municipality Hosts Water Indaba to Tackle Ongoing Water Challenges
By: Nokulunga Lebambo
The Bushbuckridge Local Municipality has recently hosted a water Indaba at the Thulamahashe Community Hall, bringing together government officials, traditional leaders, water experts, and community representatives to discuss sustainable solutions to the persistent water challenges the municipality faces.The event aimed to address the growing concerns over water shortages, aging infrastructure, and the need for improved service delivery in various parts of Bushbuckridge.
The Indaba provided a platform for open dialogue between the municipality and residents, fostering collaboration and accountability in managing local water resources.In her opening remarks, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality Mayor, Lydia Moroane emphasized the importance of community involvement in ensuring equitable water distribution. “Access to clean water is a basic human right, and as a municipality, we are committed to finding long-term, sustainable solutions that serve all our communities,” she said.Ehlanzeni District Municipality Executive Mayor, Terror Shabangu who also attended the Lekgotla highlighted that one of the ways to ensure that water reaches the community is to get rid of private water tankers.
“These Mafias vandalize government infrastructure so that they can sell water to our people. We need to fight them at all costs, Bushbuckridge has sufficient water to supply every household, however the water does not reach the people due to illegal connections and the damaging of bulk water infrastructure by those who own private water tankers” he said. Technical experts from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Inkomati-Usuthu catchment management agency attended the session, outlining plans to improve bulk water supply systems and repair existing pipelines. Community members raised concerns about inconsistent water supply, vandalism of infrastructure, and the need for better communication between the municipality and residents.
The Indaba concluded with a commitment to establish a multi-stakeholder task team that will monitor progress on water projects and ensure transparency in implementation.Residents welcomed the initiative, expressing hope that it would lead to visible improvements. “We have suffered water shortages for too long. This Indaba gives us hope that our voices are finally being heard,” said one community member.The Bushbuckridge Local Municipality reiterated that it remains dedicated to improving service delivery and strengthening partnerships to secure reliable water access for all.
