The critical clean water shortage in Elim is an everyday story that disturbs people’s lives in many different aspects. It is everyone’s right to access clean water and decent sanitation in South Africa according to Chapter 2 Bill Of Rights in the Constitution.
Issues of poor service delivery have sometimes taken community members to the streets in protests that, in most cases, ended up violent. The Freedom House South Africa funded project, Promoting Civic Education and Participation In South Africa (PCEP), has capacitated community members through civic literacy programmes run by Vumbanani for Pecebuilding Community Advice Office (VFP) to alleviate poverty, vulnerability and illegal protests. This, in turn, raising active citizens who are able to live responsibly and hold leaders accountable, using Tools for Social Change and Monitoring and Evaluating of Frontline Services Tools.
The Access to Clean Water and Decent Sanitation campaign, run by VFP, has been in existence for the past 5 years. It is through this platform that water sources have been attended to more in the village, where most people rely on the free water supplied by the Vhembe District Municipality for survival. By the end of December 2022, a total of 22 boreholes were refurbished in Elim and 3 new ones drilled at the hospital. Several engagements were held and others are still to be held in collaboration with VDM to ensure that the people’s right to access clean water remains unviolated. Keep in touch with VFP and learn more by following us on our Facebook page, join our WhatsApp groups or this website.
