Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane has promised the residents of Giyani in Limpopo access to water by the end of September.

“It cannot be that people have access to clean water in affluent suburbs, while the people of Mopani municipality don’t enjoy the same rights. You are equal citizens of this country and you have the right to access water as any other South African,” said Mokonyane.

Giyani residents have been experiencing water problems for years, especially in winter when there is no rain. The area is facing serious challenges, as most villages depend on groundwater from boreholes.

“The communities asked the minister, among others, to ensure that the malfunctioning boreholes are fixed as soon as possible,” Water and Sanitation Media Liaison Officer Themba Khumalo said.

He added that some residents in Giyani are not getting purified water because there is only one purification plant.

 

Task team

Mokonyane has appointed a task team, led by the Lepelle Water Board, to deal with all water-related problems in the Mopani District Municipality.

The team has until the end of September to put the water supply in the Greater Giyani area back to its footing.

The department will conduct an audit of all water resources, including boreholes, so they can be improved and upgraded to ensure sustainable water provision.

Mokonyane will visit the area in the second week of September to check on the progress of the work done to fix the water problem in the area.

 

Giyani WTW

The upgrade of the Giyani Water Treatment Works (WTW) is 58% complete and is expected to be fully completed by the end of September 2014.

 

(Adapted from SAnews.gov.za)