North West Premier Thandi Modise sympathises with bereaved family
The North West Premier Thandi Modise has noted with empathy the grievances directed towards government by the family of 58-year-old woman who was buried over the weekend with financial support from the provincial government after she died queuing for water in Borolelo near Swartruggens as published in today’s edition of the Sowetan newspaper.
The body of the mother of three, Shuki Moiloa had been lying in the mortuary for close to three weeks until Premier Modise’s intervention to assist the family meet funeral costs.
Premier Modise said that the recent death of the four protestors in Mothutlung and the passing away of the lady in Borolelo are unfortunate and unacceptable - as none of these deaths should have occurred.
“However, this is not the time to ‘play the blame game’. Her death is one life too many, and government has assisted the Moiloa family, not out of guilt, but from a humanitarian point of view. Irresponsible and misleading comments will only multiply the present challenges that government is proactively working to eradicate,” stressed Premier Modise.
In the interest of nation building, government calls for calm and reassures the people of the North West that it is rapidly addressing water challenges across the province and will be embarking on a road show to affected communities to brief stakeholders on the scope, timeframes within which the over R2 billion water intervention projects are to be delivered.
Though the water interruption and allegations of racism are still under investigation, the interim report suggest that a local farmer had closing the valve to pressurise the municipality to use boreholes on his farm at a charge of R38 000 a month.
It would appear that when the valve is closed, local farmers get water downstream for their livestock but when the valve is opened they do not hence they are prepared to at their own cost tanker water to the local community.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
Email: LKgwele@gmail.com
