Six contractors were awarded appointment letters last Thursday and will soon commence with work on the Vondo Water Treatment Upgrade and Infrastructure Project.

The six contractors include Eternity Star Investment CC from Polokwane, Tovhowani Khorommbi of Todani Pty Ltd and Infraburo Engineers. They will start working on the R355 million bulk water supply project, which is to take approximately 12 months to complete.

The handing-over event was held at the Tshivhase Tribal Council offices in Luaname in Mukumbani village on Thursday (6^th) and several traditional leaders and community members witnessed the event.

Local senior traditional leader Thovhele Kennedy Midiyavhathu Tshivhase expressed his concern over contractors who are just present on site shortly after being appointed but never finish their work, leaving communities with serious water shortages. He thanked the district municipality for embarking on this project as he believes it will alleviate the water shortages in the area. “We also understand that, when water projects such as these are implemented in my villages, rural unemployed communities will get jobs,” said Thovhele Tshivhase.

The executive mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality, Dowelani Nenguda, said the district was the official water service authority and they would be working around the clock to make sure that villagers without water got clean water from their taps.

Nenguda said that they had to secure the involvement of traditional leaders before the start of such projects. “We don’t want white elephant water projects here in Vhembe District. We are ready to fast track the delivery of clean water to our communities. I urge the contractors to start working hard and do quality jobs,” said Nenguda.