Picture: for illustration purposes
An enormous sum exceeding R45-million, possibly reaching R62-million, has been expended on an unfinished water supply project in Libode, near Mthatha, in the rural Eastern Cape region. Since its commencement in 2016, the communities of Ntendele and Mondlovini are still left without access to drinking water.
The project involved the reticulation infrastructure construction which Nangamso Civils began in 2016 after receiving a R27-million tender to install a 7.5 km pipeline. Confirmation of work completion from Amatola Water was secured in June 2019.
Further projects were awarded; Thalami Civils undertook the installation of water reticulation to both Mandlovini and Tendele villages, with a R18-million investment. Another construction project followed, headed up by Jamjo Civils, which focused on the construction of a water tank.
However, missing contractors and inconclusive responses have led to an impasse in project implementation. Despite each preceding project's completion, Amatola Water's lack of progress on the Rosedale water treatment facility creation has resulted in undelivered promises.
Resource mismanagement within the undertaking has resulted in the removal of community taps due to the fear of theft in the absence of bulk water supply. Despite allegedly being under construction with a contractor on site, upon inspection, no such activity was found at the Rosedale/Highbury water treatment site. Municipality spokespersons cited the delays to the Covid pandemic and issues with the small business forum.
The company responsible for the project's scope has failed to provide clarifications around the status and timeline of the water treatment works. With 22 companies bidding for the 2nd phase of the project, the local community members are left to rely on murky streams for water amidst the ever-increasing project delay and mismanagement.