For the past years, access to potable water has been a challenge for the Withuis community, who have relied on a water canal supplying water to the green scheme farmers. 

This week, the Hardap governor, Riaan McNab, in collaboration with the Mariental Town Council, delivered a water tank to the Withuis community, providing them access to clean drinking water. 

"No politics, no here-and-there stories. The only story that is binding all of us is that they must get clean drinking water, and we are going to supply them with that water. Our in-house issues, we will come together and sort them out: who is responsible for what and who, but clean drinking water must come here. And I think those are the promises that we have made to our people when we asked them to be put in charge of our offices, so let us honour our promises," stressed McNab. 

The benefiting community expressed gratitude for gaining access to potable water. 

"We appreciate it very much. And I like the point that he made that he doesn't consider which political party it is, but what matters most is leadership. So, we appreciate it, and we know if this leadership can work together, we will move forward with it. So, as the promise, we just hope they will fulfil it and everything will be fine," expressed Withuis resident Paulus Luzi.

The residents said the unsafe water from the canal often left children suffering from diarrhoea. 

Governor McNab plans to convene a stakeholder meeting on 2 June for discussions of long-term solutions for securing permanent access to clean water for the Withuis community.