STEELPOORT – The president Mr Jacob Zuma officially opened the R3,5 billion De Hoop Dam on Monday.
Zuma was accompanied by Limpopo premier Mr Stan Mathabatha, Water and Environmental Affairs minister Ms Edna Molewa, various MECs, local mayors and councillors.
This came after he neglected to follow through with prior commitments to attend the opening that had to be rescheduled twice. This however did not affect the project which is said to provide water to 11 villages in the surrounding area and the mines.
Despite objections, relocation issues of the 38 Buffelskloof families and strikes, the project continued and the dam is ready to provide water.
It will be used for two primary purposes. “The first is to supply water to the towns, industries and poorly serviced rural communities in Sekhukhune, Waterberg, and Capricorn districts of the Limpopo Province. Secondly, the dam will supply water to the mines in order to help unlock vast mineral deposits, mainly in the form of platinum group metals found in the region,” said Zuma.
The pipeline from Mooihoek to Tubatse is 100 per cent complete and only awaits an offtake agreement. “This pipeline would provide water to the villages of Mandagshoek, Mashabela, Ntsoaneng, Driekop and River Cross,” said Mr Zuma. The pipeline which will carry water from Jane Furse to Lobethal, covering the villages of Ga-Mashabela, Diphagane, Ga-Phahla, Ga-Marishane, Tisane and Mamone, is only 70 per cent complete.
Zuma said South Africa is a much better place to live in now than it was before 1994, due to the hard work of all South Africans to build a new society. “The opening of this dam confirms the good story of our country, the story of development and progress that our country has achieved.”
In his speech Zuma also encouraged South Africans to vote in the upcoming elections. He said citizens had to vote for the government of their choice. “On the May 7, our country goes to the polls again to choose the fifth democratic government to run this country. I urge you to go out in your millions to vote. As to which party you vote for it is your business. It is your secret.”
