Limpopo premier lambasts Giyani Water Project delays, appeals for speedy provision to fulfil ANC promise to communities
LIMPOPO premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, has launched the #HiNwaMati Friday project with a strong appeal to relevant authorities to speed up water provision to communities.
The project aims to mobilize on a weekly basis all sectors of government and society to address the water needs in the province. The premier will move to different areas each Friday on oversight visit or to launch new projects.
It was conceptualised following a realisation by the provincial government that the water provision rate in the province has drastically declined from 84, 1% to 69,1% in the past decade.
It was realised that that water shortages was on top of the list of communities’ cry during the general elections and may be a hot issue in the 2026 local government elections.
Speaking at a ceremony at Homu 14A village outside Giyani, Ramathuba spoke strongly of the need for the Mopani district municipality, Lepelle Water and Department of Water and Sanitation to move with speed to provide water to communities.
She moved from the premise that the ANC campaigned on the ticket that water will flow in the area. She also lambasted the multi-billion rand Giyani Water Project which never comes to completion.
“I was with the executive mayor [of Mopani district municipality] when we met with the Deputy President [Paul Mashatile] about the Giyani Water Project. We explained to them that we cannot tolerate being told about the project that never ends.
“People don’t want to hear about projects, they want water. I don’t stay in the office and wait for reports. I go out to see for myself because the reports speak of 100% completion. People don’t want to hear about percentages.
“It’s long that it was pronounced that the people of Giyani will get water. We promised water to the people of Giyani during the elections in exchange for their votes,” Ramathuba said.
Homu 14A village had a R29m project linked to the Giyani Water Project launched in December 2022 to connect 1106 households to the water reticulation system. The project remains incomplete with 700 households still not connected to the system.
However, the relevant water authorities promised that all the remaining households will be connected to the system in the next two weeks.
It was against this background that Ramathuba promised to return to the area after two weeks.
“If there’s no connection, it means those who did not do their work will have to answer. If its Mopani district municipality, then the executive mayor, municipal manager and speaker will have to answer,” Ramathuba said.
