Millions set aside for water in Limpopo

Monday, September 5, 2011

Thohoyandou - A Limpopo district municipality has set aside more than R700 million to provide water to rural communities that have been without water for years.

Newly appointed municipal manager of the Vhembe District Municipality in Thohoyandou, Masala Makumule, said communities could no longer afford to wait for water pipelines to be installed in their communities.

"We are a water services authority in the district, and water and sanitation are our priority. The majority of our people in the district are in dire need of water and we have prioritised water supply in this financial year's budget," said Makumule.

Makumule, whose position took effect on September 1, urged communities around the district to get involved in municipal activities, especially meetings where the municipality's Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is discussed.

He said the municipality would prioritise items raised during IDP discussion meetings.

"Our planning will be based on what is reflecting in the IDP and we urge communities to attend those meetings. We have a budget of more than R1.2 billion this financial year and we want to speedily deliver services to our poor rural people," said Makumule.

He added that the district municipality would ask for about R200 million from the Development Bank of Southern Africa to help address electricity supply to rural communities.

According to Shumani Razwiedani, a manager in the Vhembe district municipality's office of the mayor, the municipality had been without a municipal manager for almost a year.

"This followed the departure of former manager Muthotho Sigidi in October last year. We appointed Makumule as municipal manager on August 25 this year," said Razwiedani. - BuaNews