2025 begins on a high note for Makholokoeng

By Emily Setona

HARRISMITH – After more than three decades of living without access to running water, the residents of Makholokoeng welcomed 2025 with gratitude and celebration as tap water finally flowed into their yards.

For years, the community endured extreme hardships, relying on distant rivers, boreholes, and costly JoJo tanks to meet their basic water needs. The long wait came to an end on December 23, 2024, when 670 households in the area received tap water for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the history of the community.

Some of the beneficiaries of the water project had a lot to say during an interview with this publication.

Alinah Selepe, a long-time resident, expressed her relief and joy.

“A person cannot live without water. You can’t cook, clean, or even bathe without it. For years, we walked long distances to fetch water from rivers and boreholes. Today, I feel blessed and grateful to have water flowing from the taps in our yards,” Selepe told The Guard.

Another resident, Paulous Mokoena, highlighted the financial burden the community faced when relying on water deliveries.

“The cost of hiring JoJo tanks was overwhelming. I could have finished building my house, but a significant part of my budget went toward buying water. It was especially hard when the municipality didn’t send JoJo tanks, leaving us no choice but to pay for private water deliveries. This is the day we’ve been waiting for, and I hope the water supply remains consistent,” Mokoena said.

Makholokoeng’s struggle for water stems from its status as a water-scarce area with limited boreholes — only three currently serve the community. Speaking to the media, Morena Ernest Moloi of the Makholokoe Royal Council acknowledged the efforts that led to this breakthrough.

“For over 30 years, this community has been without reliable water access. JoJo tanks were a stopgap solution, but they were unreliable and expensive for residents. Today, 670 households have access to water, thanks to the combined efforts of the Makholokoe Royal Council and the municipality. We are proud of this achievement,” Moloi said.

However, 1,700 households in Makholokoeng are still awaiting water access. According to Moloi, ongoing work on a pipeline project from Sterkfontein Dam is expected to bring relief to the remaining households by early 2025.

The Executive Mayor of Maluti-a-Phofung, Malekula Melato, hailed the development as a testament to the municipality’s commitment to improving service delivery.

“This achievement demonstrates that Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality is determined to address critical service delivery issues. By early 2025, all households in Makholokoeng will have access to water once the Sterkfontein Dam pipeline project is complete. We are proud to have made progress in this vital area,” Melato said.

As the community of Makholokoeng begins 2025 with renewed hope, the successful completion of the water project will mark a turning point in their lives. The long journey to reliable water access underscores the importance of collaboration and persistence in addressing basic service delivery challenges.