On Thursday, 6 October, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu, visited the Vhembe region to, among other things, inspect the laying of pipelines from Mavambe village to the Nandoni Dam.
Mchunu was accompanied by his deputy minister, Mr David Mahlobo, the executive mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), Cllr Dowelani Nenguda, the chairperson of Lepelle Northern Water, Mr Ndweleni Mphephu, other councillors and traditional leaders.
Mchunu's inspection of the project came after angry Giyani residents took to the streets on Monday, 3 October, in protest of the missed deadline for completion of the project, which was 30 September this year. The minister assured Giyani residents and communities close to the Nandoni Dam that the department was committed to delivering clean drinking water from taps to the communities as promised. "We recognise your anger, frustrations and the disappointment on the missed deadline, and we take accountability. However, we remain committed to deliver water to these communities as promised," Mchunu said.
According to Mchunu, part of the delay was caused by traditional leaders who blocked the process. "While we could not have foreseen these and other challenges, we are now better equipped and hope to finalise the outstanding issues today," he said.
"What we saw on our site visits in terms of the work that is being done here in Giyani represents a great deal of progress to get water to the residents. We are closing in on a trench between Nsami Dam and the river, from which we are extracting water. It is through this canal that water from Nandoni will pass into the Nsami Dam," he said.
Mchunu later also addressed stakeholders within the Mopani District Municipality on the progress made on the Nandoni-Nsami water project.