English

Hello 

Create Profile

Creating your profile will enable you to submit photos and stories to get published on News24.


Please provide a username for your profile page:

This username must be unique, cannot be edited and will be used in the URL to your profile page across the entire 24.com network.

Settings

Location Settings

News24 allows you to edit the display of certain components based on a location. If you wish to personalise the page based on your preferences, please select a location for each component and click "Submit" in order for the changes to take affect.









Facebook Sign-In

Hi News addict,

Join the News24 Community to be involved in breaking the news.

Log in with Facebook to comment and personalise news, weather and listings.

 
 

'No water, no vote'

2008-05-21 11:15
line

Ngodwana - Residents of Mgababa village have never had access to clean drinking water.

Instead, they continue to collect water directly from the Elands River near Ngodwana in Mpumalanga, where two hippos have been known to attack residents.

"We want services now. We don't deserve to be treated like this by the government that we voted for," says one resident, Loster Mgwenya.

She worries about the cleanliness of the water, because some villagers swim and bath in the river, while animals also drink from it.

Not even an outbreak of cholera in 200l, which claimed two lives and put 10 people in hospital, failed to convince the Mbombela local municipality in Nelspruit to speed up service delivery.

"We have no choice but to use the river, because water is a basic need of life. We sometimes use bleach to purify it, but old people have difficulty measuring the amount needed," says Mgwenya while refilling her 25-litre bucket.

No response

Ward committee member for Ward 12, Alfred Mgwenya (no relation to Loster Mgwenya), said the committee had reported the matter to the municipality several times, but without any success.

He said the municipality delivered four water tanks in July last year, but never filled them with water. One of the tanks was stolen on Saturday night.

He said there are no water taps in the village either.

"Even if we had two taps, we'd be happy. We are really thirsty for purified water, just like any citizen of South Africa," says Mgwenya.

He said residents were threatening to boycott the general elections next year unless they got water.

"No service, no vote. They must not even dare come to us because they are using our votes to improve their own lives while we are suffering in the villages," said Mgwenya.

Spokesperson for the Mbombela municipality, Joseph Ngala, said the matter would be discussed with ward councillor for the area, Christina Mafutha.

"We were not aware of the situation and something will be done as soon as possible," he promised.

Read News24’s Comments Policy

inside news24

 

140
1
1 of 10

Latest comment in South Africa

fannie.mashilo says... Sincere condolences to their families.this is a lesson to all of us,u create apartheid regime the consequnce will hunt u after 100 yrs.unfortunately the burden will be caried by those who were no there. Read the article...

 
Traffic
Lottery
 
  • Wednesday Ladysmith - 22:09 PM
    Road name: N11 Both Ways
    ROADWORK - two sets of stop / go controls just south of the R68 Dundee exit - expect waiting times of up to 20 minutes between Ladysmith and Newcastle (ends March 2013)
  • Saturday Pretoria - 08:07 AM
    Road name: N1 Both Ways
    ROADWORKS - lane closures on both carriageways for long term roadworks between the N4 Witbank Highway Interchange and the Zambesi Drive exit - EXPECT DELAYS (until Jan 2013)
 
More traffic reports...
 

Jobs [change area]

Cars[change area]

VOLKSWAGEN

Polo 1.6 Trendline 5-dr MY05
2007
R 125,995.00

AUDI

TT Coupe Quattro 3.2
2007
R 395,000.00

TOYOTA

Hilux 2.5 D-4D S Dsl PU MY09
2011
R 191,950.00

Property [change area]

Vulintaba Country Estate, Upper Drakensberg

A lifestyle estate beyond compare. Home Package Options From R990 000

APARTMENTS / FLATS FOR SALE IN Umhlanga

Apartments / Flats R 4 800 000

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Casa Rex, Vilanculos

Spend 5 nights in at the magical Mozambican resort of Casa Rex from R7983 per person sharing. Includes accommodation, return flights, taxes and transfers. Book now!

Kalahari.com - shop online today

Legos

Let your child construct his own fun with only his imagination limiting his creations. Buy now.

iPad

Update the way you socialize, work and play with the latest iPad models. Buy now.

Max Payne 3

Seeking Redemption from the past, Max hopes to enter his last fight and finally put his demons to rest. Buy now.

Sins of the Father

Foul play in New York City sets the tone. Boundaries pushed, Loyalties tested and secrets unravelled in Jeffrey Archer’s, Sins of the Father. Buy now.

Nikon Camera Range

Capture and preserve your life’s precious memories with the Nikon Camera Range. Buy now.

OLX Free Classifieds [change area]

pool table

For Sale, Toys - Games - Hobbies in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 6

Lexus: IS

Vehicles, Cars in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 7

stylish bachelor furnished in sandton from 1st of june

Real Estate, Houses - Apartments for Rent in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 7

Nintendo DS and Wii Games on Special

From R79.95

No gaming collection would be complete without these classic Nintendo titles. Buy now.

Visit www.kalahari.com for millions of books, music, DVDs, games & more!

BlackBerry Curve 9380

The first BlackBerry Curve smartphone with a touch screen Stay connected...

From R3400.44

I'm shopping for:

Horoscopes
Aquarius
Aquarius

Your passion is stirred today. This might inspire you to talk about it or to write about it. Either way, the words are flowing...read more

There are new stories on the homepage. Click here to see them.