Harmonious collaboration paves the way for service delivery
Traditional Authority supports partnerships with companies aimed at serving communities
Hosi Kenneth Shiviti was deeply frustrated to watch the people in his village struggle daily to obtain water. “I was not happy,” says Shiviti, who could only send delegates from the Thomo Traditional Authority to enquire about the water shortages from the Greater Giyani Local Municipality.
His village Ha-Thomo falls under the Greater Giyani Local Municipality which has for years been plagued by severe water shortages. The small town of Giyani, which is surrounded by rural villages, falls under the Presidential Comprehensive Rural Development Programme launched by President Jacob Zuma in 2009.
The programme is aimed at facilitating, processing and addressing the prioritised needs of rural communities. These include the supply of clean running water, decent shelter, sanitation and enterprise development support.
But Shiviti and the residents of Thomo have reason to smile these days. Two years ago Khato Civils and South Zambezi Engineering Services began work in the Giyani municipality. The companies have been tasked with restoring water to residents by laying down 324km of bulk water pipelines.
“There is a big difference now,” says Shiviti about the availability of water in the village. He says although work is still underway to install the water pipes, they are at least getting a regular supply from boreholes that have been restored by the companies.
Khato Civils general manager of operations Mark Tromp says they had to employ emergency measures such as restoring existing boreholes when they started work on the project.
South Zambezi Engineering Services projects director Makoko Makgonye says in some areas pipelines had not worked in over 20 years. “Water is life. There is no dignity without water,” he says.
While they were busy with the repairing of boreholes they were also engaged in a parallel process of surveying the new pipelines. The water shortages were found to have been caused by ageing infrastructure, coupled with erratic or non-existent maintenance.
Raw sewage was being pumped into rivers, which served as the only source of water to many villages, due to the sewer plant — built 40 years ago — having collapsed completely.
Makgonye says they began consulting community leaders to solicit their help in getting the work done, using the skills and labour of the local populace.
As a result, he says constructive relationships have been forged with traditional authorities and other public representatives including mayors, councillors and party-political representatives in communities.
Khato Civils and South Zambezi Engineering Services officials meet with traditional councils every quarter to discuss issues pertaining to the project and to give feedback on progress. Then once every month they meet with ward councillors to provide feedback on progress and resolve any matters that need attention.
Both the traditional leadership structures and ward councilors help with recruitment of local labour, and also help to introduce the companies to the communities they are meant to serve.
Makgonye says both traditional leaders and councillors have been welcoming and helpful. This kind of collaboration has helped to make the task at hand much easier. It has also helped to keep residents abreast of developments. He says this has created a positive vibe in the communities, who see the company as an advocate for positive change in their area.
“Public representatives are elected by the community. The Constitution also recognises the role of traditional leaders. So common courtesy dictates that we should consult them before beginning work in their areas,” explains Makgonye.
While previously the relationship between ward councilors and traditional leaders was somewhat strained as a result of overlapping responsibilities and powers, things appear to have improved.
ANC ward 26 councillor in Dzumeri village Sizeka Mthombeni says it is important to partner with traditional leaders, as they both serve the interests of the residents. “We consult one another and share ideas,” says Mthombeni.
He says they realised a long time ago that when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers. The grass in this instance would be the community.
This harmonious working relationship has paved the way for Khato Civils and South Zambezi Engineering Services to pursue their work with speed, without worrying about stepping on the toes of local leadership.
“We are driven by a desire to improve people’s lives. We must work with everyone to ensure that we deliver water to the community. Working with all the structures and leaders in the community has really helped us make progress on our work,” says Makgonye.
Shiviti hails their relationship with Khato Civils and says the manner in which they approached the traditional authority when they started working in the village showed that they respect and understand the values of community development.
He is hoping that in the not too distant future, residents of his village will not have to walk too far to the borehole, and will soon have water in abundance.