Residents of Limpopo’s Dopeni-Matsharini village demand clean water

Residents of Dopeni-Matsharini village in Limpopo are urgently seeking clean and safe drinking water. The village, located near the Tshipise hot spring water belt, has been relying on the hot spring for more than three decades. Some villagers even share the water with livestock, including baboons and monkeys. The community has expressed frustration over the lack of progress, stating that they have voted but seen no improvement in water access.

Community leaders note that the village was supposed to benefit from the Mutshedzi Water Treatment Plant, but two reservoirs and a borehole, connected to the plant, are not functioning. The municipality has been contacted for assistance, but no action has been taken yet. The Vhembe District Municipality's spokesperson, Moses Shivambu, confirms that technical department officials are on site to investigate the challenges and provide a report. Illegal water connections have also hampered the plant's operations.