Vhembe — While many people here are still trying to recover from the damage caused by the recent floods, the community of Josefa, next to the Kruger National Park’s Punda Maria gate, is pleased with the steady supply of water it has brought.

Although the road infrastructure is seriously damaged and some mud houses collapsed, the community of Josefa is happy about the seasonal streams that sprung up nearby.

Before the heavy rainfall in December, the community struggled as the borehole that supplied them with water broke down.

Fortunately a solution came with the heavy rains which provided them with the much needed water from the seasonal streams.

Mphephu Mathe, who was fetching water said she was happy about the water they get from the streams because they haven’t had tap water since December.

“Before our machine broke down, we had water 24/7. Our municipality was doing very well. We believe whatever problem there is will be solved before these seasonal streams dry up,” said Mathe.

Salphina Maluleke said that no one in the village has become sick from the water as they boil it before use. Christina Dinda (12), a grade six student at Mashakadzi Primary said they know how to use the stream water wisely as they were taught at school.

Her classmates, Hulisani Makamu (13) and Dingani Manganyi (15) said their teachers taught them to add bleach to the water before use.

Vhembe District Municiplaity’s spokespersons, Matodzi Ralushai said: “We are concerned that our community is risking their lives by drinking water from seasonal streams.”

He said the municipality will investigate the problem with the borehole and ensure the community is supplied with water like before. “We want all our community members to drink clean water, but unfortunately that is not possible all the time. But we will do our best,” said Ralushai. - OurHealth/Health-e News Service

Story and pictures by Ndivhuwo Musetha, an OurHealth Citizen Journalist reporting from Thohoyandou in the Vhembe health district in Limpopo.