23 July 2020
OVERSIGHT VISIT BY THE INTERIM BOARD OF LEPELLE NORTHERN WATER TO GIYANI BWS DROUGHT RELIEF (NANDONI TO NSAMI – BULK WATER PIPELINE), GIYANI WATER SERVICES PROJECTS AND SAND RIVER WATER EXTRACTION PROJECTS
The Interim Board of Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) was appointed with effect from 29 May 2020. The Interim Board has undertaken various activities with some of the key stakeholders of LNW to introduce themselves and get challenges they could be having regarding water services obtained from LNW.
During the month of June 2020, in the quest to strengthen relations and also for introduction of the Interim Board, the Interim board led by the Chairperson, Mr. Joe Mathebula held meetings with Executive Mayors of various Water Services Authorities (WSA) within the Limpopo Province, who are served by LNW. Subsequently, workplans were developed to strengthen relations with the WSA’s and ensure that outstanding matters between the various WSA’s and LNW are resolved and swiftly attended to.
As part of the oversight and also in efforts to familiarize themselves with the operations of LNW, on the 2nd and the 3rd July 2020, the Interim Board accompanied by the Senior Management of the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation within the Limpopo Province, and the beneficiary WSA’s, Mopani District Municipality and Vhembe District Municipality and Greater Giyani Local Municipality, visited the projects wherein LNW has been appointed as implementing agent by the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, within the VDM and MDM. The projects which were visited were the Giyani BWS Drought Relief (Nandoni to Nsami – Bulk Water Pipeline), Giyani Water Services Projects and Sand River Water Extraction Project.
LNW was issued with a Ministerial Directives for appointed as implementing agent for the Giyani BWS Drought Relief (Nandoni to Nsami – Bulk Water Pipeline) project and Giyani Water Services Projects in October 2014 and August 2014, respectively. Whereas LNW was appointed as Implementing agent by DWS in September 2019 for the demonstration of the alternative technology.
The visit started at Nandoni Water treatment works on the 2nd July 2020, and through the Nandoni and Nsami project and ended at Giyani Water Services project.
The Nandoni to Nsami project entails the construction of the varying diameter, 49.113km long pipeline from Nandoni to Nsami and 26.58km long pipe from Nandoni to Malamulele. The Nandoni to Nsami Dam pipeline is critical in ensuring that residents of Giyani Municipality within MDM receive water in a sustainable way due the unreliability of the Nsami and Middle Letaba Dam
The Giyani Water Services project which are still under construction entail the refurbishment of the boreholes and the construction of the pipeline through the 55 villages.
In Giyani, the board went to the Muyexe village to see pipeline F2, which is currently being commissioned and also Pipeline A, at Khakhala village which is still under construction. The visit proceeded to Xawela village to see some of the refurbished boreholes, wherein the community is receiving water from. Members of the Board appreciated progress attained but urged that the Contractors should increase speed since majority of communities are still anxiously waiting to receive quality potable water after having promised by Government.
The visit of the 3rd July started at Sekhiming village (within Greater Giyani Municipality) and proceeded to Ga-Kuranta village (within Greater Letaba Municipality), wherein the board witnessed the demonstration project constructed Sand River extraction systems. The project is still in progress though the communities are currently getting water. During the visits, the Chairperson of the board interacted with various community members who appreciated the intervention and some of the community members of the surrounding villages who re quested for the board to make a similar intervention in their respective villages.
Prior to this oversight visit, the Chairperson of Interim Board, Mr. Jo Mathebula was part of launch of the Matsila village boreholes on the 19th June 2020, wherein the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, LNW and VDM intervened on water shortages in the area.
The Chairperson was joined by the Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee of
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Faith Muthambi, Provincial Head of the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lucy Kobe, the Executive Mayor of Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), Cllr. Dowelanis Nenguda and Chief Matsila.
The board has noted the progress of the projects on site and also various challenges affecting the project. These includes amongst others the access challenges to proceed with the project is some of the villages in the pipeline route of the Nandoni to Nsami pipeline, project management issues, operation and maintenance issues and funding availability. The Board is committed to work with various stakeholders in resolving these challenges.
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Enquiries: Communication Officer (Mr. Simon Mpamonyane @ 015 295 1800 [email protected] ) and/or Acting Chief Executive (Mr. Ahuiwi Netshidaulu @ [email protected] )
