Households get water in phase 1 of Giyani project
More than 31 000 households in 24 villages around Giyani now have running water in their homes. This is after most of the work in phase 1 of the Giyani Bulk Water Project was completed.
When phase 2 of the project is completed, residents in 55 villages will have adequate and sustainable water, including Giyani town. The villages that now have water are Thomo, KaMninginisi (Block 2), Mhlaba Willem, Muyexe, Khakhala, Gawula, Mahlathi, Ndindani, Homu 14A, Homu 14B, Nwakhuwani, Mapayeni, Vuhehli, Risinga View, Makoxa, Xikukwani, Bode, Dzingidzingi, Skhunyani, Bambeni, Mageva, Maswanganyi and Maphata.
Mopani District Municipality (MDM) spokesperson, Odas Ngobeni, said reticulation to households is the work of the MDM while laying the new bulk lines is carried out by the Department of Water and Sanitation through Lepelle Northern Water. He said these bulk lines are not yet fully complete, and that the old bulk lines are still in use meaning that many of the households in phase 1 still do not have a constant supply of water.
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Only when the new bulk lines are fully complete and operational, there will be a constant flow of water. Villages that will get water in phase 2 are Ngove, Hlomela, Dokera, Xikhumba, Nsavulani, Makhuva, Mushiyani, Phalaubeni, Mbaula, Nkomo A, Nkomo B, Nkomo C, Mghonghoma, Mbhedle, Loloka, Kheyi, Dzumeri, Daniel Rababale, Mphagani, Nwamarhanga, Guwela, Mavalani, Mbatlo, Xivulani, N’wadzekudzeku, Mninginisi (Block 3), Siyandhani, Giyani A and B, Giyani E and F, Mountain view, Kremetart and Giyani Town.
During a visit to the Giyani Bulk Water Project in May this year, Minister of Water Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu expressed his disappointment that the water reticulation to households was running ahead of the bulk line project. According to Ngobeni, although many of the old bulk lines are jammed with illegal connections, it is something they can address and supply water.
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“In some villages, we will have to wait for the new bulk line to be finished before we can reticulate water,” he said. “In Bode and Vuhehli progress has stopped due to the nonpayment of workers, and in Muyexe progress is slow also due to nonpayment of workers. “In Mhlaba Willem the community is bypassing the installed meters at their stands,” Ngobeni concluded.
