The community of Tonga Village in Mpumalanga is facing a severe and persistent water crisis, with residents pointing to repeated acts of vandalism at a critical water pump station as the cause. The situation has forced locals to rely on a potentially contaminated river and expensive water tankers, raising serious health and safety concerns.
The crisis escalated after the most recent sabotage incident, where electricity cables powering the local water pump were deliberately cut. Residents claim this is the fifth such occurrence since last year, leading to prolonged water shortages. The community alleges that a “water mafia” is orchestrating the vandalism to create a profitable demand for private water tankers.
The impact on daily life is profound. The local river, a source for drinking, laundry, and rituals, has become a crowded necessity. Residents fear the water is unsafe, yet have no alternative. “We drink this water and use it to wash our clothes,” one resident lamented, highlighting the dire circumstances.
The financial burden is also significant, with a single tanker of water costing between R600 and R700. The water shortage has extended to crucial public services. Children are forced to carry water to school, and the Tonga Hospital is without a reliable water supply. Families visiting patients must bring their own water so their relatives can take medication, a situation described as a major hardship.
Residents have pointed fingers at a possible conspiracy involving the security company tasked with protecting the infrastructure and municipal officials. They cite a surveillance camera pointed at the sky as evidence of negligence or complicity. The community believes municipal officials may be owners of the private water tankers that profit from the ongoing disruptions.
In response, the Nkomazi Local Municipality acknowledged the sabotage. A municipal spokesperson confirmed that the vandalism targets the electrical components of the pumps, causing significant damage. “The only place that we can repair them is in Johannesburg,” the spokesperson said, explaining the lengthy repair process for the large pumps that extract water from the Nkomazi River for purification.
While the municipality stated it is “beefing up security” and is confident that water will be restored to all villages soon, residents of Tonga Village continue to endure the daily struggle of life without a reliable and safe water source.