By Sihle Mavuso
A multi-million rand water project that was meant to provide water for residents of Umkhanyakude and Zululand districts in northern KwaZulu-Natal is rotting away before it has delivered a single drop.
The project has been sitting on the border of Nhlwathi village and Nongoma municipality for over 10 years. It was meant to provide water in Hlabisa, Nongoma and some villages falling under the uPhongolo local municipality. It was designed to draw water from the Jozini dam.
The project saw several reservoirs built, pipes laid in the ground and taps installed, but it has given no water yet.
According to residents who alerted Scrolla Africa to the matter, the project was started around 2013 and it was expected to start producing water around 2015. Eleven years later, no water has come out of the taps and some of the pipes have allegedly been vandalised.
“I remember that the reservoirs were built by a company called Sanyati. At that time we were hopeful that at last we would have clean water.
“But as I am speaking to you now, the infrastructure is rotting away and we have no idea what is happening because even our district municipality of Umkhanyakude is not giving answers,” one resident said.
The mayor of Umkhanyakude, Siphile Mdaka from the ANC, placed the blame on the Zululand district municipality run by the IFP.
“The last part of the project work package under Umkhanyakude DM was completed early in 2019; however the bulk water supply has not been forthcoming from the Zululand DM’s side,” Mdaka said.
Zululand district municipality said it won’t point fingers at Umkhanyakude through the media.
It added that the project has been revived and being worked on and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
“It is not to say that this project has not been beset with challenges but at all times Zululand has endeavoured to address them,” the municipality said.
Pictured above: One of the rotting reservoirs in Nhlwathi.
Source: Supplied
