Speaking during his State of the District Address, Pule said the district has never accomplished a better audit since 2009, saying the district was currently working on the Auditor General’s (AG) action plan. “With support from the council, in particular, the Municipal Public Accounts Committee chaired by Mfanakosi Moses Mkhabela, we have investigated unauthorised, irregular, and wasteful expenditures dating back more than a decade to find a solution to do away with disclaimers,” he said.

Shayi said the district has a budget of R2.1 billion for the 2023/24 financial year. From this budget, an amount of R1.5 billion, which constitutes 72% of the total budget, is to be used as an operating budget, while R548 million is allocated for the capital budget. On water provision, the mayor said the district had made some notable progress. He said three contractors were already working in the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality as part of phase 2 of the Lulekani Water Scheme.

Also read: Mopani District Municipality owes GTM R280 million

“We have set aside a budget totalling R74.3 million to continue the implementation of the Lulekani Benfarm Water Scheme project,” he said. Another R50m of Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is earmarked for the completion of phase 4 of the Makhushane Water Scheme project. As for Giyani, he confirmed that the Nandoni pipeline has already been connected. “For those who have lost hope of seeing Nandoni water arriving in Giyani, I would like to assure you that Nandoni water is already here.

We are currently busy with the refurbishment and rehabilitation of the Giyani Water Treatment Works. The plant currently produces 30 mega litres a day, and we want to upgrade that to at least 36 mega litres a day,” he continued. Shayi said the district has begun installing water taps with meters in households in the 24 villages belonging to phase 1 of the current water reticulation project. “Residents in Bambeni have already seen taps installed in their yards while at Homu 14A, about 1106 households already have water taps in their yards,” he said.

The same project is also being carried out at Homu14B, Ngove Ward 10 and 21, Sikhunyani, Bode, Maswanganyi, Makoxa, Muyexe, Mhlava Willem, Risinga View, Mageva, Xikukwani, Nwakhuwani, Kaminiginisi Block 2, Gawula, Vuhehli, Mapayeni, and Mhlaba Willem village. “The completion of phase 1 of this project is set for January 2024. We anticipate that at least 35 317 households should have water directly in their homes when this project is complete,” he said.

According to him, the project has already created temporary employment for 410 people. Phase 2 of the project, which is expected to focus on 31 villages, is said to start next year.