Story by: Tshepiso Kekana
2025-01-18
COMMUNITY CRYING OUT FOR HELP Let's have mercy on our people The Mountain View and Sekgakgapeng community appeals to the provincial government to provide basic services, saying Mogalakwena Municipality is failing to deliver on its promises. In an era where technology drives the world, and basic services are considered fundamental rights, the residents of Mountain View and Sekgakgapeng Extension 19 remain trapped in an unthinkable reality. The attached images paint a sobering picture of life in these communities: People still depend on wheelbarrows to fetch water in the 21st century. This is not a scene from a bygone era but the heartbreaking present, exposing the blatant failure of Mogalakwena Municipality to meet its most basic responsibility. The first image reveals a harsh landscape where residents, armed with wheelbarrows and containers, venture into the scorching sun to fetch water. These are not voluntary treks for fitness or leisure. They are journeys born out of neglect and desperation, where individuals must allocate significant time and energy to secure water—a fundamental human necessity. The second image is even more disheartening. Women, men, and children gather in long, improvised queues, waiting for their turn to fill containers from a limited water supply. The wheelbarrows in the foreground symbolize a community left behind, where primitive survival methods replace innovation and progress. How can such scenes persist when billions are allocated annually to municipal budgets? Mogalakwena Municipality must be held accountable. These pictures highlight: 1. Infrastructure Decay – Decades of mismanagement and corruption have left the water infrastructure in a state of collapse. 2. Social Inequality – While politicians enjoy luxury vehicles and plush offices, communities like these lack access to clean water—a fundamental human right. 3. Health Hazards – Using shared and inadequate water points increases the risk of waterborne diseases. Is the municipality waiting for an outbreak before taking action? 4. Missed Opportunities – Instead of channeling resources to develop sustainable water solutions, funds disappear into a black hole of maladministration. The residents of Mountain View and Sekgakgapeng Extension 19 deserve better. They deserve leadership that prioritizes their well-being over personal enrichment. Mogalakwena Municipality must urgently: Repair and expand the water supply infrastructure. Provide interim water tankers to address the immediate crisis. Engage with communities to understand their needs and deliver sustainable solutions. These images should not be a norm but a call to action. It is time for Mogalakwena Municipality to wake up from its slumber and fulfill its mandate to the people it serves. Mountain View and Sekgakgapeng Extension 19 are not forgotten footnotes of history. They are living, breathing communities demanding the dignity and rights they deserve. If this situation persists, it will not only be a stain on the municipality but a collective failure of society to advocate for those left behin
