Pretoria — At least 3 500 people of Bapsfontein near Springs will soon be drinking clean water straight from a tap after years of drinking from boreholes.

The Bapsfontein water project was launched today by Ekurhuleni Metro Executive Mayor Duma Nkosi when he delivered a 10 000 litre tank to the area from which the municipality will supply the water on a regular basis.

Seven more tanks, each costing R8 000, would soon be brought to Bapsfontein, said Nkosi.

Bapsfontein lies on the border of Ekurhuleni and Motsweding municipalities and has been without water since last year after the boreholes which residents relied on dried out.

The decision to provide the people with tanks and water followed an earlier visit by Mr Nkosi to area to look at the conditions in which the people live.

He found that the land occupied by the squatters was a private property but he said government saw the need to provide them with clean water, which is part of the basic services.

Mr Nkosi ruled out any prospects of government buying the land for the squatters, because, he said, the land could not be developed as it was dolomitic and therefore not suitable for housing.

He said the Gauteng Department of Housing would look at possible ways to assist in proving the residents with alternative land and low cost houses.

'Someone had to do something about the plight of these people. In fact it is the task of the government to ensure that all citizens are provided with basic services,' said Nkosi.