NCOP satisfied with Lim progress
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) is concerned about the water levels of some dams in the province.
LIMPOPO – Under the tutelage of Cathy Dlamini, the Chairperson for the social services select committee of which the Department of Water and Sanitation is among them, the NCOP learnt that some dams in Limpopo were below a 2% carrying capacity.
“The capacity of water in some of the dams’ shows that drought continues to rear its head in the province,”said Dlamini during the NCOP site visit to Limpopo projects over the weekend.
“The NCOP has learnt with great jubilation that several multi-million Rand dams are currently under construction. We have also learnt with reprieve that other dams are at phase one and phase two while other are nearing completion.
“We will only rejoice when our people, who elected us into power, have clean running water in their yards for everyday use,” said Dlamini.
Dlamini said the construction of the dams in the province was a long-term intervention by government to ensure the water woes in Limpopo come to an end. She said the government was using part of the R60 billion set aside by Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane to address water problems between 2016 and 2021.
In response, Lepelle Northern Water, which is the implementing agent for the national Department of Water and Sanitation in Limpopo said the water crisis is drawing to an end.
Lepelle CEO, Phineas Legodi said together with the department, they have appointed service providers to build dams in the province’s five districts.
Legodi said most of the dams already supplied the communities with water.
He said the province was currently depending on ground water through boreholes as temporary measures until the dams had been completed.
“In Mopani, which was hard hit by drought since 2009, we are 20% away from reticulating water to all communities in Giyani and Malamulele, Bolobedu, Letsitele, Modjadjiskloof and Phalaborwa.
“We have replaced the old asbestos pipes with new ones. We have rebuilt the old waste treatment plant that was spilling into the dam and we also reticulated the dysfunctional Nkensani Hospital and drilled new boreholes. We have increased the water pressure and revamped the treatment plant to pump more water for the benefit of all the communities. The agent has also drilled boreholes throughout Giyani and more than 145 of 155 villages currently receive clean running water.
“In Sekhukhune and Capricorn, the Flag Boshielo Dam and the De Hoop dams supplied water to the communities. We have the Tzaneen dam and the Ebenezer dams that are constantly helping with the supply, especially to the province’s economic hub of Polokwane. We are furthermore constructing other dams including Nwamitwa, and soon our people will have water,” he said.
Dlamini also said the NCOP was concerned that the province failed to release figures as to how many people received water in the province. She said the NCOP would like to present in parliament as to how many people currently received water either from the taps through boreholes, dams or from fountains.”
