By Thoriso Sebola
Residents of Betle Village in Mafefe, outside Lebowakgomo, are pleading for urgent intervention after enduring months without running water.
According to community members, the crisis began in December 2025 and has forced many households to rely on water from nearby rivers for their daily needs. Residents say they have no choice but to share the natural resource with livestock and wild animals while waiting for water to return to their taps.
For months, villagers reportedly raised the matter with relevant authorities but received little to no feedback. It was only after WardCouncilorr Mphofela formally escalated the issue that the matter received attention from Capricorn District Municipality.
A 67-year-old resident who requested anonymity described the challenges faced by families in the village.
“We are tired of not having water in Betle. Since December, we have been struggling until now. We have school children in our household. The river is far from our home, and it is becoming dangerous because the children have to accompany us to fetch water. We are old and can not carry heavy containers on our own,” the resident said.
The prolonged water shortage has left many households facing difficult choices. While some families are able to purchase water, many can not afford to do so. Those without financial means are forced to depend on river water for drinking, cooking, washing, and other household needs.
Residents emphasised that authorities are not forcing them to drink river water.
However, they say that after months without water from their taps, they have been left with no alternative. The situation has raised serious health and safety concerns, with many fearing the risks associated with consuming untreated water.
Another resident, Mrs Mayele Mokumo, said the situation has become unbearable.
“We have been suffering for months. We wash our clothes at the at the river and collect water to take home. We have reported the problem many times, but nothing changed,” she said.
Community members say what makes the situation particularly frustrating is that Mafefe is surrounded by rivers, yet some villages continue to struggle with access to clean and safe drinking water. They argue that access to water is a basic human right and should not depend on whether residents can afford to buy water or risk their health by relying on rivers.
Responding to the concerns, Capricorn District Municipality confirmed that a borehole breakdown was officially reported by Ward Councilor Mphofela on 23 April 2026.
According to Jabu Masondo, Manager of Communications at Capricorn District Municipality, diagnostic testing conducted on 26 April revealed that the borehole’s bearing assembly had failed.
Masondo said the municipality would never force residents to consume river water and confirmed that repair work was scheduled following the diagnosis. He added that some areas continue to receive water, while affected sections are experiencing shortages linked to the damaged system.
The municipality further cited vandalism and illegal water connections as contributing factors that sometimes worsen water supply challenges by reducing pressure within the distribution network.
Despite these assurances, residents say little has changed on the ground. As June 2026 progresses, many households in Betle remain without running water and continue to depend on river water for survival.
Community members are now appealing to municipal authorities and relevant government departments for immediate intervention, saying they can no longer endure months of uncertainty while their access to a basic human right remains compromised.
For the people of Betle, the message is simple: they are not asking for promises — they are asking for water.
