Nandoni Dam will soon provide water to 24 more villages

The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, said that the Nandoni Dam’s pump station would be tested within the next three weeks to determine whether the water pipelines leading to the Nsami Dam in Giyani had been connected correctly to enable the supply of water to the 24 affected villages in the area.

Mchunu was briefing President Cyril Ramaphosa and the media on the progress on the Giyani Bulk Water Supply project on Sunday, 11 December. The president conducted a site visit to the Nandoni Dam to assesses progress made on the project, which is aimed at alleviating water scarcity and ensuring a consistent and reliable water supply in the area.

Ramaphosa was accompanied by Mchunu, Limpopo Premier Chupu Mathabatha and Executive Mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality Dowelani Nenguda. “We cannot, however, provide you with an exact date when these affected areas will be supplied with running water from their taps because there might be unforeseen circumstances that arise, such as strikes by workers, which could delay the water project,” said Mchunu.

The Giyani Bulk Water project was initiated in 2014 to address the severe water challenges in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality by transferring water from the Nandoni Dam to Nsami Dam and the Middle Letaba water system.

Ramaphosa first engaged with traditional leaders and communities living around the Nandoni Dam area to hear from them why they have been without clean running water for so long, while the dam was at full capacity. Afterwards, he proceeded to the community engagement held at the Giyani Stadium.

Ramaphosa said that the lack of skills by some of the service providers, corruption and wasteful state funds were behind the delays in providing clean water to the affected areas.

“Over R1 billion of the R4 billion set aside for the Giyani Bulk Water Supply project was misused and disappeared, but we are pleased that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is currently busy with its investigations into the matter. Those found guilty of misusing funds will be held accountable and the consequences shall be imposed. We can promise the affected communities around the Nandoni Dam and Greater Giyani Municipality that, come end of March 2023, they will have clean running water from their taps,” Ramaphosa said.

Mathabatha said he was pleased with the outcome of the engagement between President Ramaphosa and the affected communities regarding the Giyani Bulk Water project. He was also satisfied that the challenges around the project were receiving attention directly from the President’s office and that greater progress has been made.

Date:17 December 2022

By: Silas Nduvheni

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