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EdST Enquiries: A Matukane
Telephone: 015Â 290 1215
Reference: 6/2/2/6
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: QUESTION 645 FOR WRITTEN REPLY
A draft reply to the above question asked by Mr M W Makhubela (COPE-
Limpopo) is attached for your consideration.
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 645
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23 OCTOBER 2012
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 37)
645. Mr M W Makhubela (COPE-Limpopo) to ask the Minister of Water and
Environmental Affairs:
Whether she has been informed of the plight of the Giyani community
which has been without water for the past four months as a result of
the drying up of the Nsami Dam; if not, what is the position in this
regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
CW856E
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REPLY:
Yes, The Department of Water Affairs (the Department) is aware of the
unavailability of water in the Giyani Local Municipality (LM). The
underlying factor to this challenge is the decreasing capacity of the
two major dams in the area, which are the Middle Letaba Dam that is at
1.4% and the Nsame Dam that is at 13.5%. Unfortunately if the weather
pattern continues the way that it is currently, the two dams will be
empty by February 2013.
Water supply problems around the Giyani LM have been exacerbated by
the malfunctioning of the rapid gravity sand filters at the Giyani
Water Treatment Works. There are sixteen rapid gravity sand filters in
the Giyani Water Treatment Works, eight of which are completely out of
operation. The remaining eight, which are currently operating require
urgent maintenance. The Mopani District Municipality (DM) is aware of
this, and they have promised that the contractor that is on-site to do
refurbishment of the rapid gravity sand filters, and this will be
funded from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant.
A Mopani Disaster Management Centre has been formed, in which the
Department is taking a leadership role in the Joint Operation Centre
that was established, and through this initiative a contingency action
plan has been drafted and adopted to rescue the situation.
The Department is also working closely with the Mopani DM to fast-
track the Nandoni to Nsami Bulk Pipeline, which is meant to take raw
water from the Nandoni Dam to Nsami Dam. This is a pivotal project
that would assist in reducing the water crisis within the Giyani LM.
Meanwhile, the Mopani DM was advised to take some of the funds from
the R10Â 000 000.00 transferred to the Mopani DM in March 2012 for
refurbishment of Tours Water Treatment Works and shift that to the
Giyani Water Treatment Works in order to refurbish all the sixteen
rapid gravity sand filters.
The Department appointed a Professional Service Provider to design and
construction of the five boreholes from the Nsami Dam, as well as
construct a pipeline and compressed water tanks to Muyexe Village at
an estimated cost of R10Â 000Â 000.00
The Department is conducting an awareness campaign to the community
about water conservation and water demand management for the Middle
Letaba Regional Water Supply scheme.
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