LIMPOPO MIRROR
2 25 May 2012 By Peter Muthambi
By Isabel Venter
Water for all, just bring own bucket ... Guaranteed service delivery for all … just bring your own bucket. Water service delivery in the Makhado municipal area again came under fire the past week with taps running dry for days on end. Many residents only realized that there was no water, when their storage tanks started running dry. Tshikota residents were also spotted last Friday frantically trying to fill empty containers with water from a municipal tanker, claiming that they have been without a single drop of water for three weeks. (Log on to www.zoutnet.co.za to watch the video clip). As to the reason for the problem, Makhado municipal spokesperson Mr Louis Bobodi dropped off a press release at the offices of theZoutpansberger in Friday, explaining that the Vhembe District Municipality embarked on a reservoir maintenance plan that will interrupt the normal supply of water. The release was dated two days earlier. According to the release, the maintenance plan entails the cleaning of three Albasini dam pump stations, as well as an additional eight reservoirs in Louis Trichardt. These reservoirs include the Mowkop, Hospital, Extension 7 and Railway pump
station as well as the four reservoirs in Berg Street. In their release the Vhembe Municipality explains that the cleaning programme forms part of their “goal to supply every household with an adequate and reliable water supply.” From Monday to Tuesday the three pump stations were cleaned, thereafter the Mowkop reservoir on Wednesday and Thursday and the remaining reservoirs from 26 to 30 May. Confusion, however, exists regarding which parts of town and surrounding areas will be affected and for how long. According to a source close to the cleaning programme, water will be pumped directly from the Albasini dam into the existing supply pipeline for the duration of the programme. This is allegedly due to the fact that the reservoirs will apparently be emptied out. Both the Makhado and Vhembe Municipalities were contacted to provide further details regarding the programme. Questions asked included which parts of town will be affected during the cleaning programme, when maintenance work will be completed, and why Tshikota has been without water for three weeks. Answers provided by the respective municipal spokesper-
sons, however, only seemed to further dent the already fragile reputations of both municipalities when it comes to water service delivery. “We are faced with challenges in respect of water, and are struggling to cope,” said Mr Ralushai Matodzi spokesperson for the district municipality on Tuesday. He acknowledged that the municipality is “disappointing a lot of people” and said that “Since Monday, we received many, many complaints from the public.” Bobodi in turn responded that he was not aware of the water crisis currently experienced by Tshikota residents. “If that is the case [no water], I was not aware of the challenges,” he said on Monday. He then referred all further media questions to Matodzi because the Makhado Municipality is no longer responsible for water. Asked were residents can find municipal water trucks, Bobodi referred the issue to the municipality’s assistant manager for water services, Mr David Mukosi, who is responsible for the deployment of the emergency water trucks. He responded by saying that residents should phone the trucks themselves if they want to know where they are. The number given was 082 941 8171.
Matibe to lead ANC in Vhembe region The mayor of the Mutale Municipality, Mr Tshitereke Matibe, was elected the new regional chairperson of the ANC in the Vhembe Region at an elective conference that was held at the Manenu Traffic College in Mutale last week. The fifth regional conference took place from Friday 18 May to Sunday 20 May. Matibe, who is also the current chairperson of the ANC in the Mutale subregion, competed against former chairperson Mr Philemon Mdaka. Matibe received 177 votes and Mdaka 143. Matibe said that the newly elected leadership in the region would strengthen local government in terms of rendering services to the people. “We need to ensure that our municipalities are delivering the needed services to the people,” he said. Mdaka is a former member of Ximoko xa Rixaka. He was the regional chairperson of the ANC in Vhembe for two terms. He is also a former executive mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality and is the current portfolio head of finance in the municipality. Matibe is said to be an ally of Premier Cassel Mathale. “It was obvious that Mdaka was going to lose. We knew he would not survive the competition this time,” sources from within said. They accused Mdaka of causing division within the party
“through his tribalistic leadership style”. The regional chairperson of the ANCYL in Vhembe, Mr Rolivhuwa Nelwamondo, said: “On the basis of the wave of problems facing our region, we have arrived at a decision that Matibe’s leadership will take this region forward.” He added that they had full confidence in the leadership capabilities and political know-how of “this tried and tested cadre of the ANC” in the Vhembe region. A member of the Limpopo Legislature, Ms Nandi Ndalani, was elected Matibe’s deputy, while Mr Khathu Netshifhefhe retained his position as the secretary. Makhado Mayor Mr David Mutavhatsindi was elected deputy secretary, while Mr Tshifhiwa Dali was elected as treasurer. Fifteen additional members from Matibe’s faction were also elected. After his defeat, Mdaka wished Matibe Down and out: Mr Philemon Mdaka. the best of luck.
Mr Tshitereke Matibe. By Mashudu Netsianda
Fined for using stolen SA passport
A municipal truck, parked on the corner of Songozwi and Munnik Street last Friday lured crowds of people anxious to fill their containers with water.
A 23-year-old Zimbabwean was fined R2 000 or one month in jail for attempting to cross into the country through the Beit Bridge Border Post border while using a stolen South African passport. Abson Mazhara (23) of Masvingo was convicted on his own plea of guilty to contravening a section of the Immigration Act by local magistrate Ms Gloria Takundwa. The prosecutor, Miss Memory Mandityira, said that on 12 May Mazhara came to the border post, intending to cross into
South Africa. On arrival at the departure side, he presented a South African passport belonging to Rendani Ramaluvhani. On discovering that Mazhara was using someone else’s passport, the immigration officer alerted the police and Mazhara was arrested. In a related case, a 29-year-old local man was fined US$300 or two months in jail on Monday for attempting to cross into South Africa through the Beit Bridge Border Post, using a stolen Zambian passport. Bekizitha Zimbili of Nkulumane suburb in Bulawayo was
convicted on his own plea of guilty to contravening a section of the Immigration Act (using a passport issued to another person) by Ms Takundwa. It was testified that on 9 May, Zimbili arrived at the border post, intending to cross into South Africa. As part of the immigration formalities, she presented a passport to an immigration officer manning the counters. On scrutinizing the passport, the officer discovered that the travel document did not belong to Zimbili. A report was made to the police and Zimbili was arrested.
Crime
Four alleged dagga smugglers arrested
The new office of Reri´s Insurance Brokers in the Anver Hadji Noor Centre was officially opened on Tuesday afternoon. The event was organised by Masthead Distribution Services. Photographed during the cutting of the ribbon are, from left to right, Mrs Humbulani Netshandama, Mr David Mureri, Mr André le Roux (Head of Distribution of Masthead Distribution Services), Dr Maxwell Masakona, Mr David Thidiela and Apostle Alpheus Mudau.
A constable and a reservist from the Siloam Police Station were rewarded for their observation skills, when they arrested four suspects and confiscated dagga to the value of R500 000 while performing routine patrol duties. According to a statement by the police, the two were patrolling the road between Thohoyandou and Siloam last Wednesday night, when they spotted a stationary bakkie next to the road in the Khalavha area. Four people were busy repositioning large bags on the vehicle. Further investigations revealed 10 bags filled with dagga, and two men and two women were promptly arrested. The dagga weighs more than 300kg and has an estimated value of R500 000. The origin of the dagga, as well as where it was being transported to, is still being investigated. The four suspects appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. They did not receive bail and the case was postponed for further investigation.The suspects are: Tshikhodo Maxwell Munzhelele (60), Azwindini Ronald Makhavhu
(54), Khulisilo Khoze (49) and Lydia Mususumeli Mujelele (51).
The head of crime prevention at Siloam Police Station, Capt Madadzhe, with the confiscated dagga.