The portfolio head of corporate services at the Vhembe District Municipality, Cllr Lucas Manyuha, has promised that the shortage of water in Louis Trichardt, Sinthumule, Kutama and other areas will soon be over.

Manyuha addressed a media conference on behalf of the executive mayor, Cllr Tshitereke Matibe, at the Tshipise Aventura resort last Friday.

Manyuha said that he was aware that Makhado town (Louis Trichardt) was currently experiencing a water shortage. He promised that, with the amount of R401 million the Vhembe District Municipality has set aside for water projects, the problem will soon be over.

"We have also set aside an additional R384m for operational costs and maintenance," he added. According to him, the ageing infrastructure was an obstacle in their commitment to providing quality water to the communities they serve. "Our municipality has also made R40 million available to maintain the old infrastructure," said Manyuha.

"Currently we have projects that are up and running, connecting water pipes from the Nandoni Dam to the affected areas. By the end of July, a tender will be advertised for the connection of water pipes from Valdezia to the Makhado Water Project.”

He also mentioned that an amount of R26m has been set aside to address the sanitation backlogs in the communities.