The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu has set up a team to investigate a report on the R 143 million drought relief project which was meant to address water supply challenges in Moutse, in Elias Motsolaledi Local Municipality, Sekhukhune District in Limpopo.
In 2020, the Department of Water and Sanitation set aside the budget to address shortage of water at the area due to drought. The funds were meant to supply and deliver water tankers and tanks in villages of Moutse, and to develop and refurbish boreholes in order to ensure water security for the residents.
According to the report presented by Lepelle Northern Water during the community engagement hosted by Minister Mchunu in the area on Friday, 03 March 2023, 30 boreholes were drilled and refurbished and 20 were operational, 1800 water tanks installed, as well as 20 tankers procured to deliver water to communities as part of the drought relief programme.
The community engagement followed a visit by Minister Mchunu together with Deputy Minister David Mahlobo and former Deputy Minister Dikeledi Magadzi to the Loskop Regional Bulk Water Supply Project, a trans-boundary water project between Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces that is under construction along the Elias Motsoaledi and Thembisile Hani Local Municipalities.
The afore-mentioned project is expected to abstract water from the Loskop Dam and supply water to 21 villages under Thembisile Hani Municipality in Mpumalanga, and to eight (8) villages of Moutse-East, in Limpopo upon its completion.
During the public meeting, members of the community disputed the report presented by Lepelle Northern Water and voiced out a number of concerns that ranged from corruption to non-functionality of the infrastructures that are meant to provide water to them.
Minister Mchunu acknowledged the concerns and complaints raised by the community pertaining to the report and he subsequently set up a team to follow-up and investigate the contents of the report.
The team will be comprised of Mr Sikhumbuzo Zondo, Chief of Staff from the Office of the Minister, Limpopo Provincial Head, Lucy Kobe, Sekhukhune District Mayor and Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality Mayor respectively.
Minister Mchunu emphasised that he expected the team to keep him on the loop about the progress of investigation from time to time. He also called on the local leadership to ensure constant engagement with the communities they serve.
“It is clear to me that the communities are not updated on the projects or programmes currently going on to address water supply challenges in their area. There is a need for a frequent engagement with the residents. They should be kept informed on what is being done to bring water to their area.
“We have noted with concern a feeling of resentment from community members in Moutse about the delivery of water, but we are hard at work, and we intend on providing the much-awaited water to the communities of Moutse” Minister Mchunu said.
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Wisane Mavasa
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