Hands off our water project - community
UMKHANYAKUDE District Municipality is set to convene an urgent meeting with relevant stakeholders to resolve issues relating to the disruption of a water project in Nondabuya outside Jozini.
This comes after scores of Nondabuya residents took to the streets on Monday and Tuesday, protesting against a group of well known men accused of disrupting work on the local water project.
A spokesperson of the company awarded the project tender, has accused the group of demanding millions of rands after failing to win the tender.
On Tuesday, uMkhanyakude District Mayor, Cllr Solomon Mkhombo, met with the residents in Emabhanoyini (ward 19), to listen to their grievances.
‘The community is aggrieved by the actions of a group of certain business people, claiming they are disrupting the project because members are aggrieved by certain issues.
‘The community agreed to stop the protest, and we urged the contractor to return to work.
‘We understand there are some challenges, so together with the community we established a forum which will represent the community.
‘We will have a meeting with the forum today (Thursday) to try and resolve these issues. We believe we will be able to provide feedback in less than two weeks,’ Mkhombo said.
On Monday, residents blocked the road with rubble and burning tyres, demanding an explanation from the district mayor about this group of men.
Residents claim that workers have been intimidated with guns while performing their duties on site.
Executive director of Minathi Consulting, Minathi Mthimkhulu, said they were awarded the tender by the uMkhanyakude District Municipality towards the end of 2019.
‘Mayor Mkhombo introduced us to the Tembe royal family.
‘We began this three-year project towards the end of last year. This year our employees have already been attacked more than three times.
‘These people demanded R4-million from us because they failed to win the tender. They said they need to share the money among themselves and with other people in high positions.
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‘I must also say that before the start of the project, which covers four wards
- 9, 10,19 and 30 - we awarded local contractors business opportunities to work with us. Many businesses came forward, but we could not accommodate them all,’ said Mthimkhulu
‘The process was free and fair, and we are now amazed as to where these people come from. We suggest they direct their grievances to the district municipality and not us,’ Mthimkhulu said.
One of the residents, Muntu Gumede said they were aggrieved about this development.
‘We are struggling to get water in this area and hope to receive clean running water once the project is completed.
‘These people delaying progress are known, but no one is taking action against them.
‘They must direct their anger towards the municipality. This water project must be completed as a matter of urgency as we need water,’ Gumede said.