Minister Mkhize brings hope to communities by handing over water reticulation system to communities
It is a happy day in the village of Nkantolo in Bizana Local Municipality, the home Oliver Reginald Tambo as communities welcomed an important intervention by government.
Following years of struggling without water and communities traveling long distances to fetch this important resource, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Dr Zweli Mkhize brought life and hope by handing over the Water Reticulation system in Nkantolo, the home of the struggle hero, Oliver Reginal Tambo, struggle hero.
Today (12 April 2019), Minister Mkhize joined communities to welcome this important intervention in their lives.
The project handed over by Minister Mkhize, was another important confirmation that water is indeed life and that government recognize its importance in the lives of communities.
From this intervention, some two hundred and thirty two (232) households will have potable water within the village of Nkantolo in ward 27 of the Mbizana Local Municipality.
Even though the communities of Nkantolo reside next Ludeke Dam, there is no infrastructure to reticulate water from there to communities. This shortcoming lead to some communities not having access to water, being frustrated and stranded without access to this important resource.
Listening to the beneficiaries telling their tales about their previous daily struggles, Minister Mkhize assured them that their challenges were were now in the past as government will continue to work with stakeholders to deliver services for communities, especially safe and clean water.
In 2017, Alfred Nzo District Municipality requested CoGTA through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) to construct the Water Reticulation System that will assist to provide access to clean water. MISA, a special purpose vehicle established to accelerate the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure in Municipalities to enhance better service delivery, begun construction in April 2018 and concluded the project in 9 Months.
MISA drilled borehole and a reservoir that assisted in providing clean water to communities. The water is transported through a network of 9km of pipes to the reservoir and the the reticulated to communities. This clean water, brought back dignity to communities who for years had to drink water with animals. This important intervention to the communities in Nkantolo is part of the bigger programme and the contribution by COGTA to fastrack services to communities. This intervention in ward 27 in Nkantolo, brought hope for other communities still to be connected to the grid, to gain access to safe and clean drinking water.
Communities expressed gratitude for the project which they said has changed their lives to be better.
“The availability of water is bringing other opportunities and the possibility to have other services that can benefit communities such as waterborne sanitation system and made other opportunities”, said Minister Mkhize.
Small scale farmers also sang songs and dance as they would be able to get access and ensure their livestock is able to get water.
Communities appreciated that during nine months construction period of the project, local were provided with employment and thereby reducing poverty and unemployment.
Besides local people employed on the Project, part of the work was sub-contracted to local contractors with additional work being sub-contracted to specialised sub-contractors from Mbizana Local Municipality.
Minister Mkhize indicated that the rest of government is working to develop and change lives of communities.
“Water is now flowing to communities and more infrastructure will be built to ensure more access by communities. To this effect, we urge communities to protect this important infrastructure that will continue to provide water and we also urge everyone to use water sparingly”, said Minister Mkhize.
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