The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, visited the Sinthumule Kutama Bulk Water Supply (BWS) project under the Vhembe District Municipality on Monday and she was not happy. Upon evaluating the project's progress, she firmly condemned the continuous holdups preventing the completion of the project.
Magadzi's unhappiness with the slow progress of the project was highlighted in a press release issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation immediately after her visit. The department explained that the Sinthumule Kutama Bulk Water Supply project was initiated to resolve water shortages in approximately 39 villages in the Sinthumule Kutama area under the Makhado Local Municipality. The project's scope is comprised of the construction of a 16,7km gravity-feed pipeline from the Valdezia pump station that currently stands at 98% complete, the construction of a 7,5megalitre reservoir that is at 90% completion, and the raising of a 13,6 km main pipeline to the Mowkop reservoir in Louis Trichardt that is 91% complete. "The construction of the project commenced in October 2014, with an initial completion date of November 2017. However, operational challenges experienced delayed the completion of the project, and it is expected to be completed in April 2022," states the department.
Deputy Minister Magadzi unequivocally lambasted the delays and stressed the need to move with speed to ensure the completion of the project. She warned workers on site that she would return to visit the area unannounced and expected to see considerable improvements. "This is long overdue; our wish is that by next year, in June 2022, the majority of our villages should be getting water. I am happy about the progress made so far, but we can do better; let us work faster, smarter, so that we can fulfil the promises that we made to our people, which is ensuring [an] adequate water supply," said Magadzi during her visit.
The project manager, Mr Felix Mothiba, conceded that one of the reasons that brought delays to the completion of the project was working in isolation and he added that since the involvement of Deputy Minister Magadzi, they were moving in the right direction.
In conclusion, Magadzi urged Mothiba and the general manager of technical services, Mr Witsman Maluleke, to return to work early in the new year after the festive seasons to resume work as the deadline for the completion of the project was fast approaching.