My name is Sipho Mathebula. I live in Lulekani. We have been without water for 5 years, each year a new project is introduced in our community that promises us water, contracts are signed, declarations are made, yet each year we are left without water. Our municipality sources water from a private company called lepele. In the absence of water from Lepele we are left having to spend and buy water daily. Lulekani is also made up of mostly villages. We have to spend our last cents on water, a basic right. Our toilets don't flush because there is no water, we cannot realise our right to human dignity as a people. 

We are only afforded dirty water once a week which has left me ill many times including skin reactions. We have been told we are being denied water due to an unpaid municipal bill to the private company Lepele. We only ask for a basic human right to water. This water issue is slowly creating a divide in our community as women need water for basic sanitation especially during specific times of the month. We are now faced with the humiliation of uncleanliness and judgement as we have to share these unclean toilets. 

We have in the past tried to engage our ward councillors, as Lulekani is made up of both township and location. We have equally tried to engage the Mayor who also could only provide feasibility studies where I tirelessly assisted with research and solutions.  We have attempted to engage our district head who has not given us answers. It is also at that engagement that I came across the real problem being a municipal bill that has not been paid to the private company. 

We are now appealing to you, to support us, as we deliver our petition to the municipal manager Dr Samson Sebashe and the Executive Mayor Anna Sono. We are asking that:

1. the Mayor be proactive about implementing the solutions from the feasibility study that was done,
2. the plots and the privately owned farm that are being supplied with our limited supply of water to be redirected and receive water from the town where there is enough water to supply to a large farm and the plots and;
3. the unpaid municipal bill to the private company not to affect us. We need water to stay alive. 

Help us get water, help me realise my human dignity and right to health by signing this petition.  

Help us by signing our petition so we can also realise the basic right to water, sanitation and dignity.