DWS misses Nandoni deadline

This is according to the spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation, Wisane Mavasa. The project has been plagued with holdups and corruption. When the first tenders were awarded between 2010 and 2018, corruption of more than R4 billion occurred, prompting the national government to intervene and authorised the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the water boards. Now, after more than 13 years since the project was first introduced in 2010 and following the draught that led to Giyani being declared a disaster area in 2009, residents of Giyani are apprehensive about whether the project will ever be completed.

However, President Cyril Ramaphosa assured them during his visit in December last year that water would reach the 55 villages by March this year. However, this deadline has not been reached. Mavasa told the Herald last week that the construction of the 41km pipeline from Nandoni Dam to Nsami which will connect the Xikukwani canal to the Nsami Dam before water is reticulated to other reservoirs, has been completed partially. “The raw water pipeline is being completed, and water is currently being pumped from the Nandoni to reach the canal at Xikukwani village. We are doing pressure tests along the line from Nandoni to Xikukwani.

Also read: Ramaphosa inspects Nandoni Water Project

All the sections should be completed by the end of the month, meaning water flowing into Nsami Dam,” she said. “The second part of the project entails refurbishment and upgrading the water treatment plant at Nsami, as well as the construction of a potable water pipeline from the command reservoir to distribution reservoirs from where the installation of water pipes to households of the 55 villages will take place,” she said. According to her, water reticulation into households of the 55 villages is divided into two phases, with the construction of phase one (which consists of 24 villages), having started in January, already underway at Bambeni, Homu 14A, and Ngove villages.

“Meanwhile the Mopani District Municipality (MDM) is finalising the procurement of service providers for the remaining 21 villages. This process of appointment should be completed by the end of March, followed by construction thereafter,” she added. According to her, the planning process for phase two, which consists of 31 villages, has already been finalised and the work is due to begin in October this year. “The department is looking at availing funding for its implementation,” she concluded. The site at Xikukwani canal where the Nandoni pipeline connects. The pipeline has been connected to the canal, and only a few touch-ups are needed to complete the connection.