Mchunu visits Giyani after water protests

This after residents of Giyani took to the streets last Monday and shut down the town stating that they have not had any running water for the previous 28 years. Over the last 14 years, residents of Giyani were promised access to clean water with the still unfinished Nandoni Water Project. The project was set to be completed at the end of September. “We recognise your anger, frustration, and disappointment on the missed deadline of September 30, and we take accountability.

However, we remain committed to delivering water to this community as promised,” said Mchunu. “Part of the delay was a problem we experienced along the bulk pipeline with some of the traditional leaders which impacted our schedule to complete the pipeline. While we could not have foreseen these challenges, we are now better equipped and hope to finalise the outstanding issues today,” Mchunu explained.

“What we saw today during our site visits, represents a great deal of progress in terms of the work we are doing here in Giyani of getting water to the residents. We are closing in on a trench between the 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,” said Mchunu. Deputy accompanied Mchunu, Minister David Mahlobo, and Lepelle Northern Water Chairperson, Joe Mathebula, in addressing the residents and stakeholders within the Mopani District Municipality including the Giyani Chamber of Commerce, traditional leaders, and civic and community groups, on the progress, made on
Nandoni-Nsami water project.

Also read: Corruption the reason for Giyani’s water delays

“We, as Giyani Residents Imbizo acknowledge that Giyani is a water crisis area, with many villages that do not have access to water completely, and further acknowledge the government’s interventional efforts by building a 40 km pipeline from Nandoni to Giyani and reviving 325km of eight abandoned channels linked to Nsami plant and recent pilot technology of sand water extraction projects in Skhiming, Kuranta, and Nkomo B villages. These interventions and progress are appreciated and commendable,” said Agnes Mbhiza of
Giyani Residents Imbizo.

Mbhiza said that they praise the gallant voices of the people in the Giyani Shutdown, however, the Imbizo is concerned that it was not a mass-driven effort and they remain skeptical if the shutdown was not cocooned by petty business interests. “In the list of demands, there was no mention of the two months the Giyani Water Services project was at a standstill in the dispute over a tender. Imbizo believes in local business empowerment but that should not cloud the overall empowerment of the people.

Also read: September deadline for bulk water will be met

It is unfortunate because the Minister has been visiting Giyani every three months and a progress report is being presented to a multi-stakeholder forum led by the executive mayor, Giyani Water Project, and Public Service Commission (PSC) led by local leaders. This shows that Giyani residents thirst for information. There is a gap between these structures and the masses,” she added. According to Mbhiza, the Imbizo demands the formation of a water forum in line with the terms of reference (constitution), as water forum members were appointees and not elected.

Other demands from the Imbizo includes the immediate reinstatement of the previous PSC, the inclusion of the Imbizo to the committee led by the executive mayor, and the exploration of sand water technologies and other sources since the water demand is exceeding the supply. “The current dams are all dry and Nandoni remains a pie in the sky. The short-term bulk water interventions in Giyani can be the deployment and installation of at least ten sand water projects as it proved to be effective and quick to install,” Mbhiza concluded.