An additional R12-million is required to finalise the technical assessments for the completion of the multi-billion rand Nandoni-Giyani Bulk Water project in Limpopo. Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu met with stakeholders responsible for the project two weeks ago.
Mchunu instructed that they formulate a new plan, comprising the scope of work and budgetary requirements within a week of his visit. The contractor abandoned the site over a year ago, citing delays in payments. Water and Sanitation spokesperson Sputnik Ratau says the additional funds will be allocated urgently to ensure that the project resumes.
“There is a request for the provisional funding of R12-million that needs to be allocated urgently in order to conclude the technical studies and ultimately progress to the implementation of the project. It is an additional amount, remember that the other amount the minister was referring to is money already spent and that includes obviously money that the SIU is looking at whether there is prospects of recovery but this R12-million that is being looked at is money that will assist to take the project forward,” says Ratau.
Mchunu also instructed the Mopani District Municipality to urgently implement temporary relief measures at Mageva village, after seeing residents in an SABC News insert washing their laundry at the Molototsi river. Mageva residents say water tankers have since been supplying water to some sections of the village. They say there is also progress in the drilling of boreholes.
“Tankers have been bringing water even though we haven’t seen it in the past three days. The only problem is that is stops at same stops and there are many residents and some of us who live far from their stops, and we never get water. I am going to buy water from a neighbour who has a borehole because the water tanker does not supply all of us,” a residents explained.
VIDEO: Minister Senzo Mchunu addresses the Giyani water crisis
