The Department of Water Affairs is pleased to announce the end of the strike that had brought construction at the De hoop Dam in the Limpopo Province to a halt. Representatives of the workers at the dam signed an agreement with the Department, which effectively ends the weeklong work stoppage by over a thousand workers.
In terms of the agreement, all workers were due to return to their posts this morning (08‐00) as per current shift system, a team comprising representatives from both the Department of Water Affairs and the labour forum will investigate the grievances raised by the workers.
Construction of a dam in the Olifants River System was first announced in 2003 as one of the government’s flagship programs for water delivery. The Dam construction phase of the project‐ phase 2 is set to cost R5 billion and the associated bulk water distribution infrastructure will supply water to rural communities.
The importance of this dam is twofold; the first is to supply water to the towns, industries, and poorly serviced rural communities in the Sekhukhune District of the Limpopo Province. Secondly, the dam is to supply water to the mines that will help to unlock vast mineral deposits, mainly in the form of platinum group metals found in the region. These metals are at present the largest known unexploited mineral wealth in our country.
The Dam currently stands at 70% completion and the first impounding of water is scheduled for later this year.
The Department is committed to the principles of fair labour practices and will seek to urgently resolve any outstanding issues raised by the workers.
Enquiries:
Linda Page:
Tel: (012) 336 8250
Cell: 083 460 4482
De Hoop Dam strike ends
