Swartruggens - The North West province will pay for the funeral of a woman who died while collecting water in Borolelo township near Swartruggens, the premier's office said on Thursday.
Shuki Moiloa's body had been in a mortuary since her death on January 9, because her family was unable to pay for her funeral, said spokesman Lesiba Moses Kgwele.
“We had to respond to the desperate situation as a caring and compassionate government and wish to thank the provincial secretary of (the Congress of SA Trade Unions), Solly Phetoe, for bringing the matter to our attention.”
On Wednesday, Phetoe said the 58-year-old mother of three died while queuing for water at a water-point about half a kilometre from her home.
Kgwele said the Moiloa family had confirmed that she died of natural causes, and that she had not been well for some time.
“They said it could have happened even if she was at home.”
He said premier Thandi Modise's office was trying to resuscitate two dysfunctional boreholes in the Swartruggens and Borolelo township areas.
The office also wanted two more boreholes to ensure that the water supply, which was cut when after a local farmer allegedly closed a valve, was restored for the benefit of the community.
The farmer apparently closed the valve to pressurise the municipality into using the boreholes on his farm at the cost of R38,000 a month, Kgwele said.
Modise would also help to pay for the funeral of Lukeisher van Rooyen, 22, who was murdered, allegedly by her Zimbabwean boyfriend Samuel Ndlovu, in Lichtenburg two weeks ago.
Modise condemned the crime and called for Ndlovu to be “permanently removed from society”.
Sapa