RESIDENTS of Giyani in the Mopani region, which was declared a disaster zone following a long drought last year, can now breathe a sigh of relief.

This is thanks to the recent floods experienced in the province and beyond its borders.

Though the floods caused havoc for some of the residents, two dams which stood empty for more than eight months now have enough water to sustain the community.

Mopani district municipality executive mayor Joshua Matlou said the Ntsami and Middle Letaba dams have enough water to meet the needs of the whole community for a while.

He said the Ntsami dam was now standing at 8percent while Middle Letaba was at a disappointing 6,7percent.

The two dams were for the past months been standing between 0,5 percent and 5percent, respectively.

Matlou said the district was still expecting more rain that could fill up the dams. He said the district had further received a financial boost from the provincial treasury to address the problem of shortage of water in the area.

Although he could not say how much was expected, Matlou said the money would be used to buy water pipes that would be connected from the Nandoni Dam near Thohoyandou to carry water for about 65km to Giyani.

"When completed the project would enable residents to have water everyday for their household needs. This will also make President Jacob Zuma's dream of fast-tracking rural development a reality in Muyexe, outside Giyani, where the president launched a rural development pilot project."

Matlou added that the project would not only address water shortage in the area, but it would go a long way in addressing shortages of jobs and swell the Giyani economy.