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News - Date: 12 August 2011
The Vhembe District Municipality has been requested to provide an action plan for regular maintenance and inspection of the main water pipeline from the Albasini Dam to Louis Trichardt and surrounds.
The Zoutpansberger requested a copy of the action plan, following an outcry on the town’s water crisis by the vice-chairperson of the Soutpansberg Ratepayers Association (SRPA), Mr Solly Maano, about the chronic water leakages on the main water supply line to town.
The Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) cited the lack of a plan by the former Louis Trichardt Municipality as the reason for the crisis. “It should be taken into consideration that the VDM had taken over the scheme from the former Louis Trichardt Municipality. There was no preventative and maintenance plan. There is also no history of any maintenance, let alone any refurbishment undertaken,” reads the statement by VDM spokesperson Mr Matodzi Ralushai.
According to Ralushai, the VDM has since developed a preventative and maintenance plan. “Currently, we monitor and investigate our system at least twice per week,” he said. He added that they had plans in place to construct a new bulk line from Valdezia to Mowkop.
“The project was also discussed with the relevant communities during the IDP consultation processes and it is now at an advanced stage. The only thing hindering the process is the funding, which the municipality is trying to find,” said Ralushai.
In a letter dated June 30, the SRPA vice-chairperson referred to the VDM’s role in the water crisis.
“Since the dawn of a new democratic government, the Vhembe district is experiencing very severe water shortages. All this is mostly because of the Vhembe District Municipality’s incapacity and the seeming lack of commitment from its senior officials and councillors,” Maano wrote.
VDM answered to these and other similar statements in the letter: “The district municipality considers service delivery issues raised by its citizens very important. Water supply improvements plans are in place and those can be supported by visible water infrastructure projects. Challenges of water supply do not affect Makhado town only, but we remain committed to improving the provision of water,” reads the VDM’s statement.
Four local municipalities resort under the Vhembe District Municipality, namely Makhado Municipality, Thulamela, Musina and Multiple.
The SRPA thinks it is “high time that the four municipalities should forward an ultimatum to the VDM that each local municipality wants to serve its own communities, and if the VDM cannot handle water (provision), they should hand bulk water supply back to the four local municipalities – plus any monetary allocation received from National Treasury or any other sources intended for bulk water supply.”
With regard to this aspect, no comment was received from VDM.
Linda van der Westhuizen has been with Zoutnet since 2001. She has a heart for God, people and their stories. Linda believes that every person is unique and has a special story to tell. It follows logically that human interest stories is her speciality. Linda finds working with people and their leaders in the economic, educational, spiritual and political arena very rewarding. “I have a special interest in what God is doing in our town, province and nation and what He wants us to become,” says Linda.
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