WE’LL FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS – NAKED!
AFTER 20 years of waiting for water, desperate residents have taken to stripping off their clothes.
“Perhaps if we put our breasts on display our government will come here and listen to us,” said a woman who lives in Shibangwa Village outside Malamulele, Limpopo.
The water protest also disrupted schooling and all businesses were closed yesterday.
Half-naked women claim they put their lives on the line by walking 15km in the bush to fetch water from neighbouring villages.
They are also forced to pay R3 for 20 litres of water. Men joined in by taking off their shirts.
Resident Ester Baloyi (46) said: “Government fooled us for 20 years saying our vote would bring change – but for us it’s just a dream.
“We will fight for our rights even if it means walking naked. We are women and we have the power to stand up and fight.”
Olga Ngwenya (21), a grade 10 pupil at PP Hlungwani High School, said she is disappointed about the disruption at the school but the protest was for a good cause.
“Our studies will suffer but we don’t have water at the school either,” she said.
“I’m afraid that last year’s total shutdown of Malamulele could happen again.”
She said residents are determined to continue with the protest until tomorrow.
Community spokesman Kenneth Hobyane said after years of waiting for service delivery they have decided to protest.
“We cry to our government. We want service delivery,” he said.
Vhembe municipal spokesman Moses Shibambu said they know about the protest and will present the matter to government.
“Relevant people will be delegated to deal with the issue very soon. We appeal to the people to remain calm. We promise to fix the service issues,” he said.
Source: Daily Sun
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