by Danielle Petterson

More than R20 million has been set aside to address water problems in Bloemhof in the North West, Premier Supra Mahumapelo has said.

The announcement was made to over three thousand residents in Bloemhof at a feedback meeting, held at Boitumelong Township Stadium, aimed at returning the situation in the violence-torn Lekwa-Teemane Municipality to normality.

“Agreement was reached between us and Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane that the required amount will be put aside to solve the water problem,” said Mahumapelo. Accompanied by Local Government and Human Settlement MEC Collin Maine, Mahumapelo told residents that no effort will be spared in turning the municipality around for accelerated service delivery.

Mahumapelo also announced that the leadership of the ANC in the province has decided to recall the mayor from her position.

The meeting follows a spate of violent protests linked to service delivery and the recent water contamination in the area, which claimed the lives of three infants. The contamination is believed to have been caused by sewerage spilled into the Vaal River which supplies water in the area, immediately sparking diarrhoea in the area.

The Centre for Environmental Responsibility (CER) has since called for an investigation into the criminal liability of all parties involved in the deaths of the three infants.

Mokonyane appealed for cooperation, peace, reconciliation and healing as well as committed his administration to finding ways of addressing the high level of unemployment among youth in the area.