Giyani Bulk Water Project gets high-level attention
Deputy President, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Acting Premier, and Vhembe Mayor conduct a fact-finding mission into the Giyani Bulk Water Supply project.
LIMPOPO – Friday, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina, Acting Premier Basikopo Makamu, and Vhembe Mayor Freda Nkondo conducted a fact-finding mission to assess the Giyani Bulk Water Supply project.
This initiative involves transferring water from the Nandoni Dam near Thohoyandou to address water scarcity in the region.
During the visit, Mashatile stressed the need for continuous monitoring to address issues and ensure timely completion of the project.
“If we can finish it within a reasonable time, we will do so. Let me assure you, we are on the ground sorting out all the problems. Ongoing monitoring is crucial to seeing progress firsthand.”
The delegation also observed that some of the water infrastructure is outdated, with components having been in place for over 30 years. Mashatile assured that the Nandoni Dam pump station will be operational by November, aiming to provide water to 24 affected villages.
This visit follows a previous inspection by President Cyril Ramaphosa two years ago, where the supply scheme had repeatedly missed deadlines, causing concern over water shortages.
Mashatile, in his role as chairperson of the task team addressing national water challenges, led the oversight visit to Nandoni and Nsami dams to ensure that the Giyani region and surrounding areas receive functional water infrastructure.
The Giyani Bulk Water Project, initiated in 2014, aims to alleviate severe water issues in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality by transferring water from the Nandoni Dam to augment the Nsami and Middle Letaba water systems.
Mashatile engaged with local traditional leaders and communities to understand why residents near the full-capacity Nandoni Dam were still without clean water. He identified issues such as lack of skilled service providers, corruption, and misuse of state funds as contributing to the delays.
“Over R1b from the R4b allocated for the project was misused, but we are pleased that the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is investigating. Those found guilty will be held accountable,” Mashatile concluded.
