The much-awaited report back from the Public Protector on the problems of the Nandoni Dam brought great joy to community representatives.

Community representatives from 32 villages listened attentively when the Public Protector read his findings on investigations that he had done on the Nandoni Dam. The decisive moment came when the Public Protector, Adv Lawrence Mushwana, ordered the Department of Water Affairs to compensate the residents adequately.

Thirty-two communities who were adversely affected by the construction of Nandoni Dam, a R6-billion project near Thohoyandou, have lodged complaints, after what they claimed to be unilateral decisions by the Department of Water Affairs (DWAF) on matters about the dam.

The report back meeting took place at the Mount Rider Hotel at Ha Budeli outside Thohoyandou on Friday.

Giving a report on an investigation into complaints by people and communities who were allegedly affected by the construction of the dam at Budeli on Friday, Mushwana found a number of individuals had not been compensated after promises by the department.

Mushwana said he found a number of disturbing factors in his investigations. “It is bad for a government department to make promises to people and not fulfill them,” he said, ordering the government to keep its promises.

He also said he found it unacceptable that people residing next to the water did not have water. He ordered that water pipes be installed and people get water in their homes.

As part of the agreement between community representatives and the department, it was also agreed that all communities who were affected by the construction of the dam must have access to electricity. However, the department soon changed its stance and said only those who had electricity before would receive electricity. Mushwana ordered that all villages receive electricity as per agreement.

The Public Protector also found that financial compensation given to farmers was not enough. He ordered that alternate land be provided to them, so they would continue making a living out of farming.

He also said that safety measures should be put in place to control safe entrance to the dam as well as to prevent water animals from leaving the dam and reaching households.

Mushwana said DWAF had six months to implement the recommendations.

Mr Solly Baloyi, the chairperson of the residents committee, said he was satisfied with the findings, indicating that they were fair and that the “Public Protector was not biased. Many would have thought that the Public Protector would rule in favour of the government as he is part of it. He has shown that he really stands for the truth and fights for fairness.”

Baloyi said the report also vindicated their contention that people’s rights were overlooked and not enough had been done to compensate the communities. “We are very grateful for what the office of the Public Protector has done for us and we hope we will soon be adequately compensated,” he said.

Local community leader Eric Nyathela also hailed the recommendations. “Now, because the people live mostly from farming, giving them alternate land is a dream recommendation,” said Nyathela.

Ms Henriette Anderson, the chief director in engineering services at DWAF, said her department would work closely with the Public Protector’s office and would do everything possible to ensure the recommendations were implemented.