Mayor warns contractors to complete the water project within prescribed time

Vhembe District Municipality officially hands over the multimillion Xikundu/Mhinga water reticulation project

The Village Voice

Vhembe District Executive mayor Dowelani Nenguda on Thursday gave a warning to the contractors in the multimillion Xikundu Mhinga Regional Water Scheme to complete the project I time or risk incurring penalties. Nenguda said this at Xikundu and repeated this at Mhinga during the officially handing over of the project that will benefit hundreds of people under the two traditional authorities.

The project was divided into three clusters and each cluster allocated its own contractors. Each of the three clusters was given 48 weeks starting from June 6 to complete the project. This means all the entire project will be completed by June 6 next year, failing which penalties will be imposed on the contractor.

Speaking at Xikundu in the presence of Hosi Xikundu, the portfolio head of technical services at Vhembe councillor Miyelani Chauke, the manager in charge of water services Witsman Maluleke, headmen and different stakeholders in the community, Nenguda said municipality wanted to see the project completed so that people get water. He said it is the responsibility of all to make sure the project is completed. “The project does not belong to the executive mayor but to all of us, “he said and requested the traditional leadership and the community to monitor the project.

Hosi Xikundu thanked the municipality for the project. He said he would assist the municipality in fighting illegal connections because they are a hindrance to water provision in the area.

At Mhinga the reigning traditional leader Hosi Shilungwa Cydrick Mhinga said he was happy with the project. But Hosi Mhinga wanted to seek a commitment from the municipality when other villages which are not part of the project will be careered for. Councillor Chauke, who was the programme director, asked manager Witsman Maluleke to converse with Hosi Mhinga and give assurances about when the other areas would be assisted with water.