Verifications should be wrapped up and no family should be left behind – Deputy Minister Mahlobo
Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr David Mahlobo, has demanded that the remedial actions contained in the Public Protector’s report on the construction of Nandoni Dam and the compensation of affected communities in Vhembe District, Limpopo, be concluded immediately.
Yesterday Mahlobo met with various stakeholders, including traditional leaders, officials of Vhembe District Municipality and community leaders that were relocated during the construction of Nandoni Dam. At the heart of the dispute is the delayed compensation of the relocated families during the construction of the dam in 1998. The Deputy Minister said the matter had dragged for far too long and that it must be settled as soon as possible. The outstanding compensation to the communities has adversely affected the construction of the dam.
Mahlobo’s latest intervention came after his first visit on the 05th March 2020 to address community representatives in relation to the delays by the Department to implement the remedial actions outlined in the Public Protector’s report. The report recommended compensation of the affected individuals and communities for: land; crops; natural resources; graves; medicinal plants. It further stated that the loss of rights should be done equitably, transparently and in a sustainable manner. The monetary compensation was the last resort in the implementation of the relocation action plan.
Today’s three-part meeting started with a session with Chief Ramovha Thavhani to give an update and discuss broader issues in the chief’s jurisdiction. Issues raised in this meeting were the disputed 30 hectare land below the Nandoni Dam wall belonging to the chieftaincy, the road that is to be constructed, the bridge and the reticulation of water to villages close to the dam.
In the second update session with Chief Gole Mphaphuli at the Vhembe District Municipality, some of the issues raised included: the proposed fence separating the dam and nearby villages to protect the communities from the dam inhabitants such as hippos and crocodiles; the urgent resolving of the outstanding issues between the merged community-based committees; and the reticulation of water to the villages in the chief’s jurisdiction.
In the final session with the Nandoni Community Structures, held at the DWS District Office hall, Deputy Minister Mahlobo spoke strongly about the lack of cooperation between the leaders of the merged community structures as it does not benefit the affected communities. “I am glad that the communities appreciate the helpdesks by the department but even those cannot continue forever, the should be speedily wrapped up and the department has to process the claims quickly without leaving any affected family behind” concluded Mahlobo as he urged the office of Acting DDG Manus to work even harder to conclude all outstanding matters relating to the Nandoni relocations matter.
The Deputy Minister committed to returning by the 15th of November 2020 to check the progress and the commitment by the Vhembe District Municipality to appoint contractors by November.
Mahlobo said the aggrieved community must strive for unity and form one committee, instead of two structures to address their grievances. He said in the next meeting community leaders must present a revised plan that included all the families.
For more information, contact:
Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 082 874 2942
