An additional billion rand is required to ensure that the multi-billion rand Nandoni Dam supplies water to various communities in Limpopo. This is according to the Lepelle Northern Water Board that gave a progress report to Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu who conducted a site visit at the dam today.
Mchunu has committed that about R20 million of this will be made available right away for the expansion of the water treatment plant.
The multi-billion rand Nandoni Dam is meant to supply water to thousands of communities in the Vhembe, Mopani, and Capricorn Districts.
Despite this, more than half of the intended beneficiaries are yet to access running water. Most of them live at the doorstep of the dam.
Local Chief Nkhaneni Ramovha says the people in his area have no access to water.
“I’ve been using a borehole in my community since I was born, I am still using a borehole but I stay a hundred metres from the dam and water is being moved to Thohoyandou, to everywhere and I don’t have a tap in my yard, my community is using boreholes. The water supply is not reliable, you can imagine we have been patient for 23 years that is why we have decided, we don’t want to see pipes in our area until we see commitment.”
Billions already spent on Giyani Bulk Water Project
R3.2 billion has been spent on the Giyani Bulk Water Project. The project was for the construction of a pipeline from Nandoni to the Nsami Dam in Giyani.
Nsami would then supply water to residents of 55 villages in Giyani. The project however ground to a halt in 2019 after the contractor abandoned the site. Some officials from the project’s implementing agency, Lepelle Northern Water, now face criminal charges relating to the project.
A new board has now been appointed, and it says an additional R400 million is needed for the project to be completed. The chairperson of the Lepelle Northern Water, Nndweleni Mphephu says a further R600 million is needed to double up the capacity of the water treatment plant in Nandoni dam.
“I will emphasise again, our appeal honourable minister, to say let’s get the project approval. One is the R600 million to upgrade the plant, two is the remaining amount that is needed, R498 million so that we can complete the project.”
Government commits to seeing the project through
Mchunu says funds requested by Lepelle Water will be made available soon.
“I have a message here, that money is available and in this financial year they have R20 million made available so that you start work and R20 million out of 600 is quite something. You can start because it is for this financial year and then they will add in the next balance.”
Mchunu has also committed to revisiting the project in two months’ time to monitor progress.
The minister has been closely monitoring the project:
