Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu and his Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Dikeledi Magadzi interacted with the communities and stakeholders of Vhembe, in Thohoyandou and Giyani. He has assured them that work is underway to resolve outstanding issues and errors that have delayed provision of water to people of Vhembe and Mopani District Municipalities.
“We are here to address any outstanding issues and they should be resolved within a reasonable timeframe. The Giyani Water Supply Project has been in the news for a number of years, especially with regard to negative issues of corruption and maladministration it is associated with. I am interested in the laying of pipelines from Nandoni Water Treatment Works to Giyani. This is a new era, and we are here to ensure that there is water for people of Vhembe and Giyani”, said Minister Mchunu emphatically.
Minister Mchunu inspected the Nandoni Water Treatment Works in Venda and assured the stakeholders that the work to upgrade it from producing 60 megalitres of water to 120 megalitres has been approved and will resume soon. Minister Mchunu also inspected the laying of water pipelines at Mphambo Village, next to Giyani.
“We cannot afford to delay provision of water to the people of Vhembe and Giyani. We are committed to service our people and today I am making an undertaking that the time starts now. You will get water in your villages”, said Minister Mchunu.
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Deputy Minister David Mahlobo also gave a report on the status of compensation payments to relocated families who were removed when Nandoni Dam was constructed. He said out of 1 362 beneficiaries, 1 029 have been paid. This leaves out an amount of 339 claimants still to be processed. This includes those as well that have potentially been overpaid or even paid twice. Out of these 339 outstanding and still being processed, there are 67 payments that are scheduled to be paid by 15 December 2021.
Construction of a 49 km pipeline from Nandoni to Nsami has resumed and Lepelle Northern Water is the implementing agent. 37% of construction has been completed, meaning that 27 km of pipelines have been installed.
There is need for a further R498 million to ensure installation of the water pipelines that will benefit the outstanding 55 villages in Giyani still without water currently. Minister and Deputies acknowledged this and are awaiting the documents that will support the release of such funding. Minister Mchunu emphasised the need to work urgently and with speed, while ensuring that all financial and legal prescripts are not undermined.
An amount of R600 million is required in order to upgrade the Nandoni Water Treatment Works (WTW). The upgrade will enhance the capacity of the Treatment Works, raising it from 60Ml/day to a whopping 120Ml/day.
All this work is meant to ensure completion of the work on the Giyani Bulk Water Supply Project, ensuring security of bulk supply, while at the same time, the Water Services Authorities will be assisted to ensure optimal operation of their reticulation infrastructure. The cooperative efforts must lead to security of supply for communities and a better life for all.
