Alfred Moselakgomo

Alfred Moselakgomo

Moutse has received a R46million boost from Limpopo for the provision of water amid protests by residents against their incorporation into the province.

This emerged during the budget presentation of the Greater Sekhukhune district municipality in Groblersdal at the weekend. The municipality's budget for this year is R714million.

Dickson Masemola, the executive mayor, said that a total of R101,9million would be transferred to the Elias Motswaledi local municipality for water services. Moutse is in the Elias Motswaledi municipality.

Of the R101,9million, R46million has been allocated for water supply in all areas. Masemola said that R2 million will go to Elandsdoring for water reticulation, R2,9 million to Stop for water supply, R2,3 million for Bloempoort, R3,7 million for Magakadimeng, R2 million for Dennilton sewer upgrading, R2 million for Moteti and R10 million for Moutse West.

Masemola said more than R300million would be spent on water reticulation in the entire region.

He said: "We are further putting aside R2million for sanitation for the Elias Motswaledi municipality, R5million for Greater Tubatse and R3million for Marble Hall, which are all in Moutse."

Masemola acknowledged that water supply was a problem but said that help was on the way.

"Reports on parts of Western Highveld show that there is no reliable source of water for communities in the greater Moutse area. We are making available R60million as the first phase towards installing a pipeline from Loskop Dam to Moutse, which will provide a lasting solution to the water shortages in the area," Masemola said.

The mayor said providing electricity to Greater Tubatse and Makhuduthamaga remained a major challenge. He said this was largely because of the geographic spread of the areas and the many villages that were without electricity.

"We have budgeted R70million for electricity projectsto end the backlog," Masemola said.