Bus torched during Polokwane water protest

Polokwane police have opened a case of malicious damage to property after a bus was torched during a community protest about water.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said no arrests have been made.

“Police are monitoring the situation,” he said.

The communities of Seshego and Polokwane have embarked on a march to the Polokwane municipality in a bid to have their water woes addressed.

According to community members, residents in Seshego and parts of Polokwane have been experiencing water challenges since August.

Some school pupils were told not to go to school on Wednesday morning due to the shutdown.

Limpopo education department spokesperson Mike Maringa said the department is yet to establish the number of schools affected by the protest action.

“Precautionary measures were applied in some affected areas,” he said.

Polokwane municipality spokesperson Thipa Selala said the municipality is implementing measures to deal with the water supply problems.

“A task team with the municipality, Lepelle Northern Water and the department of water and sanitation has been established. It is meeting frequently to resolve the water challenges.”

Engagements with Eskom were ongoing to exempt the water plants from load-shedding “as they are national key points and this will ensure security of water supply”, he said.

Meetings with provincial leaders and the national water ministry are being held this week.

Selala said the municipality is reviewing its approved projects so it can have funding to complete a water treatment plant in Seshego to augment supply and work on completing the Sand River project which will bring additional supply to the municipality.