STELLALANDER-VRYBURG: Hannes and his sister, Irene Fourie, have lived on a small plot just outside Vryburg for more than 40 years. Known locally as Ben Blom’s plot, the property is home to 12 families, including 14 school-going children who have no transport to get to school.
What makes life even harder for these residents is the complete lack of running water. According to Hannes, the only borehole on the property collapsed years ago when the pipes fell in. Today, residents rely on a makeshift system, drawing water from the narrow borehole using a coffee tin attached to a 100-metre rope. “Fifteen coffee tins make up about 20 litres of water,” explains Hannes. Irene adds that it’s almost impossible to get enough water for washing clothes and bedding. While the plot does have electricity, which residents purchase as prepaid power, the absence of water and proper infrastructure remains a major challenge.
Hannes says the local municipality has made several promises over the years, to repair the borehole, build proper housing, and install high-mast (Apollo) lights for safety, but nothing has materialized. “It’s dark and dangerous here, with many snakes around. We live in fear because anyone can just drive or walk onto the plot,” says Irene. The Fouries also mentioned hearing that the land was sold to someone from the Ganyesa area, but they have never met the buyer. They are uncertain about the whereabouts of the family of the original owner, Ben Blom. “I was born and raised on this plot,” says Hannes, pointing out that there is even a small Fourie family cemetery on the land, a quiet reminder of generations who once called this place home.
*Red: The editorial team is awaiting feedback from the councillor responsible for the area in which the plot falls.
