‘Heads are going to roll’: Vhembe supervisors in shooting line after water tasks deserted

2 senior supervisors at the beleaguered Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo might deal with major effects for apparently overcommitting on bulk water tasks worth more than R400 million.

The claims emerged after numerous provider contracted to provide the tasks deserted the websites in the previous Venda homeland recently.

This comes 11 months after previous Roads Agency Limpopo CEO Gabriel Maluleke was fired in November 2024 after a disciplinary hearing discovered him guilty of monetary misbehavior for investing an unbudgeted R1.3 billion on roadway jobs.

Water tasks deserted

The choice to desert tasks likewise comes just a month before the vital 4 November city government elections.

Vhembe District Municipality verified today that it had actually gotten letters from company showing they would no longer deal with the idle jobs.

‘No cash left’

In action to concerns by The Citizen at the Vhembe District workplaces on Thursday, Mayor Miyelani Chauke verified the claims.

“I was just warned of the deadlock when specialists corresponded to my workplace signaling us about leaving website. When I talked to my personnel, I was informed there was no cash left in the coffers to finish the jobs,” stated Chauke.

The mayor stated he had actually composed to Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba and the ANC at its Frans Mohlala head office for assistance on how to resolve the matter.

“But I can guarantee you, heads are absolutely going to roll since I have regulations from high tiers at Mowaneng [Office of the Premier]the ANC and the National Department of Water and Sanitation on how to handle the matter. They stated, Mr Chauke, we want to help you with funds to finish the jobs, as long as you use effect management,” he stated.

Chauke stated his primary required from the premier was to alter the lives of individuals of Vhembe.

“The premier stated although the district dealt with numerous other obstacles, top of the list need to be water arrangement,” he stated.

Without calling the jobs or the business included, the town stated they formed part of a program to provide water to drought-stricken towns, farming locations and towns in Musina and Malamulele.

Water problems in the town

Describing turning points from his very first 100 days in workplace, Chauke detailed the interventions he had actually made and the obstacles he acquired.

“Our focus is on speeding up capital tasks that broaden and fix up the district’s water and wastewater facilities. Amongst the crucial tasks getting attention are the Ngwenani-Themeli supply of water and bulk reticulation job, in addition to interventions benefiting Chavani and surrounding neighborhoods,” he stated.

Chauke then began blowing his own horn.

“This is a rural town, and I are among the youngest mayors in South Africa. Due to the fact that of team effort, devotion and dedication, me and my dedicated group of experts handled to move the town’s blue drop [programme] from 39.35% in the previous fiscal year to an incredible 63.78%. As if that was insufficient, on the part of sanitation, our green drop [programme] Enhanced from 24% to 58.2%.”

Some locations in the town still have water in drips and drabs.

After neighborhood discontent in Musina in March 2022, previous water and sanitation minister Senzo Mchunu– who is now authorities minister on suspension in the middle of corruption claims– signed a memorandum of comprehending with Mozambique on a cross-border water task to benefit Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The R8.2 billion job was billed to draw sand and river water from the Limpopo River to enhance supply to the embattled Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Short-term steps consisted of providing water to Musina and parts of Thulamela regional town. According to Mchunu, the short-lived job was expected to be finished in 2025, however a year later on, taps are still dry.

In action, Chauke assured it would be solved quickly.

“Our Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina is working round the clock to alter the status quo of Musina. As far as I am worried, the water issues dealing with the town and its surrounding towns will quickly be a distant memory. The minister will, in the not-so-distant-time, check out the town to conscientise residents on how quick their water difficulties will be water under the bridge,” stated Chauke.