This after politicians and officials gave undertakings that the deadline for the Giyani Bulk Water Project was only months away. The water project started in 2014 under former President Jacob Zuma and former Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane. The project was intended to ease the transfer of water from the Nandoni Dam to benefit 55 villages. Seventeen months ago, in October 2022, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, accompanied by President Cyril Ramaphosa, visited the project.

Ramaphosa was presented with a report on the progress of the Nandoni pipeline. Afterward, speaking to residents at the Giyani Stadium, the minister said the final connections of the pipeline to the Xikukwani water canal which leads to Nsami Dam, has been completed. The connections between water pumps and the clearing of the canal to allow for easy flow of water were still to be completed. Mchunu said that corruption was a major contributor to the prolonged delays in providing the residents of Giyani with clean, running water.

Also read: Over R4 billion later still little progress with Giyani water

In the same month, residents protested in Giyani town, stating that they had not had any running water for the last 28 years. In February last year, ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba, also visited the project. He called on the government to arrest, prosecute, and convict the officials and ‘tenderpreneurs’ who are involved in the Giyani Bulk Water Project scandal.

In December last year, after nine years of investigating the Giyani Bulk Water project which started at R90 million and escalated to a whopping R4.4 billion, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) asked for a trial date in the High Court in Polokwane. It is still unknown when a trial date will be set. A resident of Daniel Rababalela village, Jane Kgapane, said that they have lost hope of ever receiving water. “We are now used to buying water from those with boreholes, if we do not do that, we will have no water. They have failed us miserably, affecting our daily lives.

Also read: Giyani water reticulation project at risk of stalling

“The worst part is that we live in a rural area where most people rely on social grants for a living, now we have to use that money to buy water. I have lost all faith I had in them, the village is tired of their empty promises,” she said. Cynthia Ngobeni from Mageva village told the Herald that water pipes were laid to their village, “but out of nowhere, the water stopped”. “We were told that they were testing it out and we will soon have water but ever since that day, we have not heard anything. It does not shock us, we are used to it, and to tell the truth, we are tired of it. Why would you deny someone the right to water, knowing that it is a basic need for a person,” she concluded.

Herald contacted the Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Wisani Mabasa about the completion of the bulk water project and she said that she will revert with full information.