You know those stories on “I Blew It,” where people get millions and then, next thing you know, they’re broke, and we’re all left shaking our heads? This isn’t one of those stories.

Mlungisi Majazi Maseko is a 41-year-old from Mooiplaas village in Mpumalanga. Instead of blowing his Road Accident Fund (RAF) payout on the latest fashion or fancy cars, Maseko decided to do something remarkable: bring clean water to his community. 

Yup, that’s right. Maseko used R1.3 million from his RAF payout to buy water tanks, pipes, and everything needed to ensure his neighbours didn’t have to walk five kilometres just to get a bucket of water.

For 15 years, over 100 households struggled to get water, but thanks to Maseko, water now flows directly to their homes.

Like the rest of Mzansi, Mpumalanga struggles with water. Recently, the Department of Water and Sanitation reported that the dam water levels in the province were dropping. The province’s water levels are lower than last year’s. 

Maseko’s journey started in 2018 after a car accident led to his RAF claim. Before the crash, he was a scaffolder. After the accident, he could’ve gone the usual route, maybe bought a new house, a car, or even a wild vacation. Instead, He dug his own borehole to water his farming land and decided to help his community get water. “Seeing the community I grew up in suffering and old people carrying water buckets for 5km, I held a meeting with them and told them about the plan to draw water from the stream to their households,” he told Sowetan.

And that’s exactly what he did. He didn’t just provide water; he gave his community the most precious gift – dignity and relief from a struggle they had known for far too long. Now, the folks in Mooiplaas can open a tap and get water in their yard, and there will no longer be long walks to the stream. 

The Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality, which should have been providing water for this community, has noticed, too. They’ve recognised Maseko’s efforts, proving that sometimes the best solutions come from within the community. 

Maseko didn’t just avoid blowing his payout – he turned it into a lifetime investment in his community. And that’s one story we can all raise a glass of clean water to. 🥂