Download PDFResidents in Kliptown are unable to conduct their daily lives without a water supply because the municipal JoJo tanks were last replenished a week ago. Residents also cannot afford to buy or pay people to fetch them water. It has become necessary for them to get up early and fetch water from a nearby neighbourhood.
They go to the toilet and are unable to wash their hands as there are a lot of people using the toilets. It is a challenge for them to bathe or wash their clothes because of the great distance they must walk to get water. It is unclear who to contact for the installation of taps in the community. Back in 2022, these residents lost their homes and were forced to move to a new location, and they have been drinking water from the JoJo tanks since they moved to the new location.
Nthuthu Mole (39) says she is unable to do her laundry, and her kids do not have enough clothes to wear as everything they had was burnt when they lost their home. In addition, she mentioned that she has to wake up early in the morning to get water from a neighbouring township. She says that it is tough and challenging because, in the morning when they wake up, it is dark and windy outside.
Maria Motloung (56) who is disabled, lives with her husband who works night shifts. She said she struggles during the night when her husband is not around and there is no water in the house. She has to take her medication every night and her husband can only assist her in the morning. Motloung also mentions that living in the new location is difficult as she had a tap in their old house and it was more convenient for her.
The most important resource for supporting all life forms is water, since without it life cannot exist. The health of members of communities like Kliptown suffers when they lack basic services like water. The most affected are children who become dehydrated if they do not drink enough water, which can lead to digestive problems like stomach ulcers. This is just one of the many social problems affecting the people in this community.
This article was submitted on 07 July 2023. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
