Minister Mchunu laments delays of the implementation of water infrastructure projects in Sekhukhune District
Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu has expressed concern over the delays of the implementation of the water infrastructure projects that are going to benefit the community of Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo. He has highlighted the Moutse Water Supply Scheme which is going to address the long-standing water supply challenges in Moutse under Elias Motsoaledi Municipality, as well as the Olifants Management Model Programme (OMM) by Lebalelo Water Users Association, which will address water challenges in the entire Sekhukhune District.
Minister Mchunu and Deputy Minister David Mahlobo met with the Executive Mayor of Sekhukhune District, Cllr Minah Bahula, the leadership of Lebalelo Water Users Association (WUA), as well as the traditional leaders in the district.
OMM programme is a R27 billion infrastructure development project launched last year in October at Ga-Malekana in Burgersfort. It is a 50/50 public-private partnership between the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) with Lebalelo WUA.
The OMM programme entails the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project (ORWRDP), which will construct, operate and maintain defined bulk water infrastructure from Flag Boshielo and De Hoop Dams. The project will also expand to include potable water infrastructure provisioning to about 52 000 households (250 000 people) in Sekhukhune District and Mogalakwena Local Municipality.
The Chief Executive Officer of Lebalelo WUA, Mr Bertus Biernam assured the Minster that stringent processes are in place and there is a plan to appoint a project contractor by 2025.
Minister Mchunu called for the establishment of a steering committee of the project that involves both the political and the technical side, to develop catch up plans and the interim measures to be taken to ensure water augmentation. He said the committee will also ensure that the project is protected from corruption.
Regarding Moutse Bulk Water Supply, Minister Mchunu called for the finalisation of the project, which is 97% complete. He said there are long-completed sections of the project, and the remaining ones should be completed to expedite water supply to Moutse communities and the surrounding areas.
Moutse bulk water project will also be augmented by the cross-boundary Loskop Regional Bulk Water Supply Project, which abstracts water from Loskop Dam in Mpumalanga and will supply water to 21 villages under the province’s Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, and to eight (8) villages of Moutse-East in Limpopo.
During his engagement with the community of Moutse, Minister Mchunu Minister gave feedback onto the investigation he commissioned around the R143 million drought relief project that was set aside by DWS in 2020, to address water supply challenges in Moutse, in Elias Motsolaledi Local Municipality by Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) as the implementing agent.
In his previous visit to Moutse, Minister Mchunu received complaints from the community about the maladministration of the project and the forensic investigations were carried out by the Department’s Internal Audit.
The findings revealed that LNW appointed AES Consulting CC in 2020 for the development and refurbishment of boreholes, and installation of 2000 x 5000L water tanks on a turnkey basis in the Moutse area.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) had also investigated the procurement processes that were followed to appoint the service providers for this project and no irregularities were noted, and it was found that the service providers were appointed through an open tender process.
However, the Department’s forensic investigations established that the delivery of water to communities was infrequent and this result in communities to procure water from community-based water sellers. Some of the water tanks have been stolen and there is no accountability over the remaining water tanks.
There were recommendations made following forensic investigations and these includes a joint engagement between LNW as the Implementing Agent and Sekhukhune District Municipality. Both the institutions were encouraged to account for their individual responsibilities in the project by ensuring consistent water supply to the communities by water tankers at regular intervals.
Sekhukhune District Municipality should also monitor the supply of water to communities by the drivers and keep adequate documentation.
Enquiries:
Wisane Mavasa
Cell: 060 561 8935
E-mail: mavasaw@dws.gov.za
Kamogelo Mogotsi
Cell: 076 523 0085
