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Firms abandon water project

A State-owned entity has allegedly bungled a multimillion-rand project meant to ease the drought burden on struggling residents of villages in Limpopo.

Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) - the parastatal responsible for bulk water supply in the province - hired 37 companies to help relieve communities from having to buy water from their pockets as a result of the drought.

However, a number of the companies have since abandoned the projects, citing nonpayment by LNW. Some of the companies have also failed to pay their employees.

Some contractors affected by the nonpayment have accused LNW of not giving them answers when they inquire about their payments.

Greyling Construction manager Willie Chauke said they had been fighting with LNW until they stopped working in Relela and Bambanani villages a month ago.

He told Sowetan that his company was only paid R650000 of the R12-million project.

"We were forced to abandon the project though we are worried about the poor people who do not have water. But the failure to pay us makes things difficult for us also," said Chauke.

Another company owner who preferred to remain anonymous said they had also fought with local subcontractors in Relela because they could not pay them.

"I submitted an invoice to LNW in July, and I'm still awaiting for payment," said the owner, adding that his company was only paid R800000 of the R2.1-million it is owed.

He said he was continuing with the project even though he did not know when payment would be made.

Daniel Pilusa, a resident of Relela in Bolobedu, said he was working for a company which was contracted for a water project in the area.

"The company has since abandoned the project and its owner vanished without paying us. When we confronted the owner he told us LNW has not paid him. We don't know what to do now," said Pilusa.

Despite having been given questions yesterday morning, LNW spokesman Simon Mpamonyane said he was still awaiting details from the entity's technical department before responding.

Limpopo, like large parts of the country, is experiencing a severe water shortage, leaving many communities in danger of contracting diseases that could result from using water from dirty dams and streams.

frankm@sowetan.co.za

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