The people’s patience for the R3bn Nandoni water project, which the government has not been able to complete after 14 years, reached a boiling point in Giyani, Limpopo, yesterday when they shut down their town demanding answers.
On Monday, angry residents shut down the CBD in Giyani, amid calls for water and sanitation minister Senzo Mchunu to account for the government’s failure to finish the Giyani bulk water project meant to supply the town and 55 villages with clean drinking water. The project was meant to bring relief to the water-scarce part of the province.
The project has been a source of controversy for years with allegations of corruption delaying its progress. Meanwhile residents in villages like Siyandani in Giyani continue to suffer the dire consequences of water scarcity.
Yesterday, residents in the area could be seen caring buckets and pushing wheelbarrows laden with drums in desperate search for water. Among them was 19-year-old Thulani Baloyi who drove to the local sports centre with his family’s bakkie, carrying 15 water containers.
Baloyi, said he had to do at least three trips a week to get water for his family and a few neighbours who do not have transportation. He said over the past four months the situation had become worse as they had not seen water coming through their taps.
“It is really bad. A lot of people are struggling and it seems to be getting worse,” Baloyi said.
Julia Sithole, 46, was drenched in sweat under the scorching sun as she pushed a wheelbarrow home 2km away after a failed mission to find water. Sithole said their communal water storage tank had run dry.
“I’m so disappointed. I don’t know what to do because we can’t bathe or clean our houses. I wish the government could come and see the misery we live in,” said the mother of five.
Heaps of dirty laundry and stacks of unwashed dishes could be found inside Sithole’s home. A half-filled 20l bucket was just about the only water she was left with.
“When this water finishes, we will have nothing left,” she said.
Austin Mabasa, who was among protesting residents, said they had decided to take their frustrations to the streets because there was no solution in sight.
“It seems as if ministers, MECs and executive mayors are just playing games with the community of Giyani,” Mabasa said.
He said Mchunu had broken a promise he made earlier this year that he’d resolve the water issue before the end of September. Mabasa said on Friday, September 30 many communities were still without water, resulting in the decision to protest.
“The people who are supposed to account are distancing themselves from the water problem,” he said.
Businesses including the local shopping centre, street vendor stalls and shops in the area remained closed as protesting residents barricaded the R81 road from Polokwane. Only essential services like hospitals were allowed to operate. No property was destroyed as police monitored the situation.
Sputnik Ratau, spokesperson for the national department of water and sanitation said the department had been engaging with the multi stakeholder forum in the area to give regular updates, while the minister had visited the area on numerous occasions. Ratau said the department had so far achieved major milestones and it was unfortunate that residents had opted to protest.
“We have kept them up to date and you can see that some of the milestones are within reach,” he said.
In a written statement Mchunu appealed for calm, saying that a lot of progress had been made on the Giyani water project including the Nandoni to Nsami water pipeline which is left with 2km to be completed. The Giyani Bulk Secondary Water Supply project was at 56% towards completion while construction for the Giyani Wastewater treatment upgrade was expected to start in November.
“The Giyani Water Project has always been a priority project for the ministry; it is unfortunate and regrettable that it has taken this long to provide the people of Giyani with clean water but I want to assure the residents that we are hard at work and will see the project to completion,” Mchunu said.
He blamed corruption for delaying the projects.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.