The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Limpopo notes with concern the R36 million
water project at Schoonoord village, in the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality which
was left unfinished despite payments made to contractors in full.
The project goes back to 2020, when the work to erect reservoirs to supply water to
ward 16 under Makhuduthamaga Municipality and surrounding villages was
commissioned. To this day the communities do not have drinking water, despite the
money spent to alleviate water challenges.
Another worrying predicament and evidence of corruption by the municipality and the
main contractors is that, security guards, labourers, CLO and Sanitation Service
Providers have not received their payments for about four (4) months now.
Time after time, including now in the 2022/23 financial year the local municipality
adjusted budget allocation towards the above-mentioned water project with an
additional amount of more than R3 million, but the monies continue to be squandered
and misused for unrelated purposes, instead of being channelled towards uplifting
service delivery. For this, there must be consequences management in relation to
wasteful and fruitless expenditure, as a matter of urgency.
The EFF has declared war against the Sekhukhune District Municipality, relating to
the issues of sewage and water reticulation to the residents of Sekhukhune. In the
recent march to the District Municipality to demand water, we have made it clear that
our people can no longer survive without water, as the provision of water is long
overdue.
We strongly demand that, the Sekhukhune District Municipality must intervene as
soon as yesterday, water is life and a basic need for our people. The municipality must
start taking communities seriously and finish all the unfinished water projects across
the district.
