Billions allocated to address water issues
OVER R3-billion has been allocated to uMkhanyakude District Municipality to address water woes in the region.
This was revealed on Wednesday by Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu during a working visit to the district and community engagement at Ezibukweni Stadium in Jozini.
"Not over R3. Not over R3-million.
I'm saying this clearly: over R3-billion to install water and improve infrastructure throughout uMkhanyakude," said Mchunu to a packed marquee.
The minister assured Jozini residents that all 23 wards would eventually be supplied with water, with related projects already under way in some parts.
Mchunu also touched on a viral video in which President Cyril Ramaphosa is seen 'unveiling' one tap at a household at Bhekindoda area, Jozini.
Mchunu clarified that the president had actually inspected several households in the area which forms part of a newlyinstalled water scheme and that the said video was a misrepresentation.
"I have never seen or heard such blatant lies being spread on social media and on TV," said Mchunu.
The minister explained that the said scheme is made up of 464 taps at households in the area and that more will be installed.
Mchunu also unveiled the Makhathini Lower Pongola Water User Association in Jozini, which was established for infrastructure development and to manage water resources such as Jozini
Dam, Pongola River and Makhathini Canal, with the aim of benefitting all water users in the district.
Mchunu and his deputy, David Mahlobo, formally received a 32km canal transferred to the department from Silwane Trust, facilitated by the Agribusiness Development Agency, a public entity of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
The canal has a holding capacity of 141 754 cubic metres and abstracts raw water from Jozini Dam to six pump stations.
The pressurised water is distributed from the pump stations through an extensive network of underground pipelines to four different types of irrigation systems that are being used; sprinklers, centre pivots, floods and drip.
The canal is meant to benefit both agriculture and domestic users in the district.