LIMPOPO – Communities living around N’wamanungu Dam, formerly known as Middle Letaba Dam, have called for improved water services, saying it is unacceptable that they continue to face shortages while the dam is full.

Residents from Ndengeza, Blinkwater, Rivala and Shimausa marched to the Mopani District Municipality offices on Tuesday to submit a memorandum demanding that the district refurbish the dam’s water treatment plant so it can supply enough clean water to the surrounding communities.

The four communities said access to water remains a daily struggle despite living near a fully stocked dam.

 No reliable water supply for 20 years

Delivering a memorandum, community representative Hlayisani Nkhwashu accused authorities of long-standing failures in maintaining water infrastructure.

“Since 1994, successive administrations have failed to maintain critical infrastructure. They allowed skilled workers to leave without replacement, ignored vandalism and system collapse, and mismanaged funds meant for water projects,” he said.

The communities are calling for a full refurbishment of the treatment plant, as well as the repair of canals and pipelines connected to the system, including those leading to Nsami Dam.

They also want household reticulation systems installed in their areas to ensure that residents can access water directly from their homes.

“Residents of Blinkwater village have not received a reliable water supply from the N’wamanungu Dam system for the past 20 years, despite being within the designated supply network,” Nkhwashu said.

He added that there is a need for the installation of heavy-duty valves capable of operating continuously to ensure a stable and consistent water supply.

The communities are also demanding a fully functional piped water network that delivers water to yard or street taps.

Water diversion to Nsami Dam also contested

Meanwhile, residents from Rivala village have raised concerns about water being diverted from N’wamanungu Dam to Nsami Dam in Giyani.

They are calling for this canal to be discontinued, arguing that the water should first benefit nearby communities before being diverted elsewhere.

“Nsami Dam should rely on supply from Nandoni Dam. Water from N’wamanungu Dam should be prioritised for local communities, who have historically never benefited from the resource despite its proximity,” the memorandum stated.

As part of long-term solutions, the community has also proposed the development of additional water infrastructure.

This includes the construction of another dam near Hlomela village, along the road to Phalaborwa, to reduce reliance on a single water system.

“There is a significant river flowing between N’wamatatani and Ndengeza RDP, passing through the Sunduza Mhinga Bridge in Giyani CBD. We believe this water can be harnessed and channelled into a new dam to supply villages around Hlomela and parts of Giyani’s townships,” Nkhwashu said.

The memorandum, which the community wants responded to within 14 working days, was submitted to the Mopani District Municipality offices in Giyani on Tuesday.