By Thabo Monyela
GIYANI- Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has revealed that 24 out of 55 villages meant to benefit from the Government’s over R3 billion Giyani Water project will soon get water.
The Committee led by its chairperson Robert Mashego conducted a 2 days oversight visit on Tuesday,18 and Wednesday,19 in Giyani and Vhembe, to assess progress on the completion of the Giyani Bulk Water Project.
Mashego said the first phase of the project, which involves the bulk infrastructure to move raw water from Nandoni Dam to Nsami, is complete, however, is concerned that the households are yet to benefit due to reticulation connections.
“We saw water running in the canal into the water treatment works, despite this, we remain concerned that there is no water benefitting the people as yet, and as such the committee has instructed the DWS to complete reticulation works to the whole 55 villages, so that people can benefit from this government water investment,” he said.
The Water and Sanitation committee chairperson further said the reticulation on the remaining villages is planned for the 2024/25 financial year.
The Department of Water and Sanitation Deputy Director-General Risimati Mathye said the remaining work is in the hands of Mopani District Municipality to fast-track the refurbishment of the Giyani Water Treatment Plant so that it reaches its maximum capacity of treating 30 megalitres of water per day to benefit the households in the 55 villages.
” We continue to provide support and funding to the municipality in this quest and we expect it to be finished by December 2023,” Mathye said
