Minister Mchunu affirms the critical role of the traditional leadership in the implementation of the Mzimvubu Water Project
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu has assured the traditional leadership in Joe Gqabi; OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo Districts Municipalities that they will be fully involved as stakeholders in the implementation of the multi-billion Mzimvubu Water Project that is meant to benefit communities under their leadership.
On Monday, 13 November 2023, Minister Mchunu, joined by the executive mayors of the three districts (which are Water Services Authorities) respectively, Cllrs Nomvuyo Phosela, Douglas Mesuli Ngqondwana and Video Mhlelembana as well as representatives of Elundini and Mhlontlo Local Municipalities, met with the King of AmaMpondomise, Kumkani Luzuko Matiwane; Chief of Elangeni (where the dam will be located), Inkosi Siyasanga Mabandla; as well as the Traditional Council of Northern-AmaMpondomise, to engage on the impact of the Ntabelanga Dam project currently under construction as well as the overall Mzimvubu Water Project, to the local communities and the said districts.
During his Budget Vote early this year, Minister Mchunu announced that the Mzimvubu Water Project was back on track after years of delay. The project has since been reconfigured to make it more affordable, and the estimated cost has been reduced from R18 billion to R8 billion.
The Ntabelanga Dam project, which is one of the Mzimvubu Water Project components, has since commenced its implementation in the Ntabelanga mountains, along the Tsitsa River, Tsolo, in the cross boundary of Elundini and Mhlontlo Local Municipalities in the Joe Gqabi District. The Stage 1 of the dam component consisting of the construction of access roads to the dam wall site is sitting at over 90 percent, while pegging of the dam wall site, identification and pegging of land and households that will be affected by the dam impoundment is also underway.
Other components of the Ntabelanga project include construction of a water treatment plant, primary and secondary reservoirs, and bulk pipelines for treatment, transfer and storage of potable water and to enable the water services authorities to reticulate to communities earmarked to benefit from the project. Meanwhile, the overall Mzimvubu water project will look at existing water supply schemes within the Mzimvubu Catchment Area in order to optimise and harness them to benefit the communities in the 3 districts.
Engagements at the Stakeholder Meeting held at the Ntabelanga Dam Site Camp in Sqhungqwini Village, focused on among others, the implementation of the legislations and policies that guides on the management of issues relating to land development by government, including identifying infrastructure and servitudes that will form part of the water project as well as relocations and compensations for those affected by the process.
Minister Mchunu said that to ensure transparency and that there were no unnecessary disruptions and delays to the project implementation, all relevant stakeholder representatives are going to form part of the Political Steering Committee that will be set and co-chaired by the Minister and the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane. Its members will include the two Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, two representatives from the provincial executive cabinet, the three mayors of the affected districts and the two local municipalities, representatives from the Kingdom as well as the traditional councils that are affected.
A Technical Task Team led by Mr Leonardo Manus, the Acting Deputy Director-General of Infrastructure Management in the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), will be formed and will be comprised of the Public Liaison Committee (PLC) members and community representatives. The task team will deal with the technical implementation of the project including issues of relocation and compensation of households that will be affected by the dam impoundment. The task team will be expected to provide an update on the progress of the project and will report to the Steering Committee on regular basis.
“The resuscitation of this multi-billion Mzimvubu project, was to confirm that people in rural areas also have constitutional human rights which include right to have access to clean, potable water for their basic needs like the rest of the citizens who resides in urban areas. Through this project, we as the national, together with the provincial government and the responsible districts as water services authorities as well as relevant municipalities should make sure that there are no more hindrances to the progress of this project to its completion.
“Like many other projects that have been unlocked, what is happening on this site is a beginning of a new era and makes us happy. With the structures we are setting up, we are going to correct all the errors made previously and we will ensure that all the issues raised in the meeting receive necessary audience to ensure that the implementation of the project continues without unnecessary disruptions and ultimately, communities in the districts receive the much needed clean, drinking water through proper infrastructure,” said Minister Mchunu
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