Musina — Residents of Campbell township in Musina have threatened to withhold their votes in next month’s municipal elections unless the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) restores a reliable water supply to their taps.
Water deliveries after protest threat
When visitors arrived in Campbell on 15 October, households had lined up empty 20-litre containers in the street in the hope that a municipal tanker would come by. Two tankers did arrive while people were waiting, but residents said the delivery followed an organised protest in a WhatsApp group in which they declared: “No water! no vote!”
Several residents told visitors they had experienced intermittent running water for months. Some households, they said, have never had a tap connected. Community leader Elvis Mamathumntsha said many families are forced either to buy water or to fetch it from a mosque borehole or a pump station when municipal supply fails.
“VDM is only delivering water to this township as we are going towards elections,”
said Nomsa Mamathumntsha, who has lived in Campbell since 2021. She told visitors her tap had been dry for three months and said the community wants “a permanent solution, water in our taps.”
Everyday hardship and dignity at stake
Residents described the compounding impact of the interruptions. Letti Thonga, who moved to Campbell in 2019 and was seen pushing a wheelbarrow with 20-litre containers, said she has never had a regular water supply since settling there. Thonga said the lack of water makes basic sanitation difficult because she cannot flush her inside toilet; she also said she cannot afford to buy water as she is unemployed.
Those practical hardships intersect with dignity and economic pressure. A prolonged and inconsistent supply prevents many residents from carrying out daily chores, keeping homes hygienic and accessing opportunities that require a functioning household water supply.
Municipal explanation and unanswered questions
On 10 October the municipality issued a notice warning of low water pressure in Musina after an electrical fault affected boreholes drawing from the Limpopo River. However, residents say the problem long predates the recent electrical breakdown: protests over water supply in Musina have occurred for years.
GroundUp sent questions to the VDM on 15 October but had not received a response by the time of that report. Locals say the tankers arrived only after they escalated their complaints publicly, raising concerns that routine maintenance and repairs are postponed until public pressure spikes.
Broken infrastructure lying idle
Residents pointed to three reservoirs north of Campbell township that are presently unused and overgrown. Two of these reservoirs were built by a mining company that has since left the area; one was constructed by the municipality. The presence of these unused facilities is central to the community’s demand for a permanent, not temporary, solution.
| Reservoir | Built by | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| Reservoir 1 | Mining company (now departed) | Unused, overgrown |
| Reservoir 2 | Mining company (now departed) | Unused, overgrown |
| Reservoir 3 | Municipality | Unused, overgrown |
What residents want
Community demands are straightforward and practical:
- Reconnection and reliable pressure to household taps across Campbell township;
- Repair and recommissioning of the three nearby reservoirs so stored water can support supply during breakdowns;
- Transparent, time-bound commitments from VDM and the Musina Local Municipality on maintenance and infrastructure investment.
Residents say they will consider any improvements that provide lasting access; short-term tanker deliveries are seen as stop-gap measures that do not address the underlying failures.
Wider implications ahead of elections
The threat to abstain from voting unless service delivery is fixed places pressure on municipal authorities at a politically sensitive moment. For Campbell residents, the choice to withhold their vote is framed not as a partisan statement but as leverage to secure a basic human need. Whether that strategy will compel urgent action remains to be seen.
For households already struggling with unemployment and limited financial resources, continued interruptions to water supply deepen vulnerability and restrict livelihood choices. Restoring consistent water would relieve immediate hardships and reduce the risk of waterborne disease and other public health problems linked to inadequate sanitation.
The Vhembe District Municipality had not responded to questions about the Campbell township supply by the time of the report. Residents say they will continue to mobilise until they see a permanent fix.
Reporting from Musina.
