Water crisis plagues a small town in Carletonville

A severe water crisis is leaving the small town of Blyvooruitzicht in Carletonville, west of Johannesburg, high and dry.

The local mining community has been without running water for close to a month because the mine, which is currently being liquidated, owes the municipality close to R200 million in arrears. The matter is now destined for the courts.

One of the residents, Sithembile Sithole's household has to do without water. This as days of carrying buckets to the nearest tank, have turned into weeks. 

However, she's not alone - scores of others are in the same position.

“Every day we wake up and wait here if the water tank does not come we turn back. We can’t wash. We can’t use the toilets and we use toilet in the bush,” says Sithole.

Tanks were provided by the Merafong Municipality - after it cut water supplies due to the mines' massive debt. Liquidators say there's simply no money to settle the debt.

But now it seems the municipalities interventions are failing. Water tanks have been set up but they aren’t filled up regularly.
Lawyers for Human Rights are taking the matter to court on Friday. 

Residents are now hoping that the court will find in their favour - and restore their dignity.