LIMPOPO – Greater Giyani Municipality portfolio head for water, sanitation, and energy, Cllr Gezani Maluleke, has told council that recent heavy rains, despite causing losses in some areas, have brought much-needed relief to local communities after the Middle Letaba Dam reached levels not seen in years.

“For years, we have been experiencing water shortages because the dam was empty,” Maluleke said. He announced that the dam currently stands at 77%.

He described the development as historic for the municipality. “We should all thank God for this blessing, and we hope we will not experience the same water problems we faced in previous years when the dam was empty,” he added.

The Middle Letaba Dam supplies water to communities and farmers around Giyani and surrounding areas in the Mopani and Vhembe districts. However, for many years, the dam recorded very low water levels. Residents and emerging farmers have complained that streams feeding the dam were blocked or diverted, reducing the amount of water flowing into it.

Some community members accused a commercial farming conglomerate, ZZ2, of building structures or blockages on streams that feed the Middle Letaba Dam, allegedly contributing to reduced inflows and water shortages for households and livestock.

ZZ2 has denied the allegations, saying it does not illegally divert water from the dam or affect the community’s water supply. The company maintained that it relied on groundwater and rainwater for irrigation and has never taken water directly from the Middle Letaba Dam.

On April 24, 2024, the then Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu announced the establishment of an independent investigation into the alleged blockage of streams, upstream of the Middle Letaba Dam, which was believed to have contributed to critically low water levels.

Mchunu, together with his deputies David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, conducted site inspections at streams and tributaries near major farms in Mooketsi and engaged with affected farmers and community members.

A panel headed by retired judge Bernard Ngoepe was later appointed and has since completed its work, submitting a final report to the current Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina.

Middle Letaba Dam is the main source of water for the Mapuve and Giyani water treatment works, which receive their water through a 60km canal. Pumping from the dam had previously been halted when levels dropped to zero, but has recently resumed after the dam rose to 77%.