67-year-old dies after walking 5km carrying water

A heartbreaking tale of resilience and struggle has come to a devastating end.

Madala Lekgetho Mofokeng, aged 67, died while carrying water back to his home on Wednesday, 30 October, in Kgabisi Village, QwaQwa, in the Free State.

Madala had to travel almost 5km to fetch water from a distant borehole, as his village last had water on election day in May 2024. He was pushing a wheelbarrow with buckets full of water when he died in the presence of his wife, Gogo Magauta Mofokeng, aged 69.

In an interview with Daily Sun, gogo Magauta said she couldn’t believe her eyes when she realised her husband had died on the street.

“That was his only second trip of fetching water when my he suddenly died. We’re forced to wake up early in the morning to get water at boreholes as it is a stark reminder of the harsh realities rural communities face,” Magauta said.

She recounted that he was sitting on the wheelbarrow when she heard Lekgetho make a strange breathing sound and then collapsed.

“I tried to help him, but unfortunately, he lost his life in my hands. I’m still traumatised. That was an unbelievable moment.”

Community leader Molelle Mokoena said the village had been struggling with water for almost six months.

“We last had water in our taps on election day. We’re now forced to get it from a faraway borehole. We last saw the ward councillor during election campaigns. We’re saddened by the tragic death of our elder,” Mokoena said.

Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality Water spokeswoman, Tebogo Radebe said many villages, including Kgabisi and Baghdad, have been without water due to vandalism at the Pereng Pump Station.

“We’ve experienced a series of vandalism incidents at the Pereng Pump Station, which was vandalised for three consecutive months. Vaal Central promised to hand in the equipment this week,” Radebe said.

DA leader in the Free State, Dr Roy Jankielsohn said the party had lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission about the massive water crisis in the province.

“There are a few boreholes scattered around. Residents use groundwater, springs and rivers or walk long distances to collect water. They also have to pay water entrepreneurs, who reportedly charge R600 for 1 000 litres delivered. Most residents live off social grants, so that is a massive cost,” Jankielsohn said.

“Maluti-a-Phofung Water pays for three water tankers in QwaQwa, which reportedly transport 30 000 litres per day to schools, hospitals and homes where there are funerals. There are no attempts to serve residential areas. We believe their report is due soon. We trust this will hold the culprits to account.”