Pretoria – North West Premier Thandi Modise says she will meet the funeral costs of the 58-year-old mother who allegedly collapsed and died during a water interruption in Borelelo Township, near Swartruggens.
The body of the mother of three, Shuki Moiloa, had been lying in the mortuary since 9 January as her family could not afford her funeral costs.
“We had to respond to the desperate situation as a caring and compassionate government,” said Modise in a statement on Thursday.
She further thanked the Provincial Secretary of Cosatu, Solly Phetoe, for bringing the matter to her office’s attention.
The Chief of Staff in the Office of the Premier and a Special Programmes Co-ordinating committee in the Private Office of the Premier recommended the intervention after they were assigned by the Premier to visit the family and Kgetleng Revier Local Municipality on Wednesday.
Their visit was to confirm the allegation by Phetoe that the family is indigent.
The Office of the Premier is coordinating urgent efforts to resuscitate two dysfunctional boreholes in the area and establish two more to ensure that water supply - which was cut after a local farmer allegedly closed a valve - is restored for the benefit of the community.
According to Premier’s Office, although the water interruption and allegations of racism are still under investigation, the interim report suggest that a local farmer is closing the valve to pressurise the municipality to use boreholes on his farm at a charge of R38 000 a month.
“It would appear that when the valve is closed, local farmers get water downstream for their livestock when the valve is closed hence they are prepared to at their own cost tanker water to the local community,” said the statement. – SAnews.gov.za
