Mbete disappointed with dysfunctional dam

During her recent visit to Vhembe, African National Congress National Chairperson Baleka Mbete made a site visit to the multibillion-rand Nandoni Dam. The dam was completed in 2004, but local communities are still to drink a drop of water from the dam.

Addressing stakeholders at the R2, 4-billion dam in Thulamela, which she compared to Mauritius ”because of its beauty", Mbete said she was disappointed that, many years after its completion, "local people are still thirsty".

Mbete said she was concerned that when she visited the dam she found that billions had been spent to construct the dam, but local communities were not utilising the water from the dam. “Obviously one needs to determine what has happened, but I have been told that there are contractors taking each other to court. That is not our main concern. We just want to make sure that people get water from the dam."

She said she would get a briefing from the Department of Water Affairs on what had happened. Recently, Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said she had requested more money from the national treasury for new pipes to replace the inferior ones used by the last contractor.

Meanwhile, the Limpopo government has achieved victory against the contractor whom they had taken to court over the inferior pipes. This was revealed  by Premier Cassel Mathale when traditonal leaders enquired about the progress of the pipeline during his meeting with them at the Mphephu Royal Palace at the weekend.

News - Date: 25 May 2012

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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