Nyambeni Mandiwana
It is part of a R103.7 million project to bring water to one of Limpopo’s driest regions, but disgruntled residents have prevented the construction of the infrastructure from getting underway.
Although the village of Tshituni is desperate for water, some residents have stopped the construction, demanding that any labourers hired without following proper procedures be dismissed.
According to the leader of the disgruntled group, Shumani Rammbwa, the hiring system of Tarcron Projects was taken over by politicians conniving with traditional leaders.
He said politicians hired their friends in order to stay in power.
“Out of 32 local labourers, only five were properly hired and the other 27 employees slipped in as a result of corruption and nepotism,” he alleges.
“We don’t condone corruption. This company will be closing on Friday for the festive season, so in January 2022, there will be new, properly employed labourers,” Rammbwa said.
Local traditional leader Chief Tshifhango Netshituni said the hiring of labourers was done openly in the community hall and Rammbwa is pushing his own agenda.
“Those labourers have been on the payroll of Tarcron Projects for four months. Stopping the construction will prolong the water crisis in the area. We have tried our best to let the construction continue while solving the matter through discussion, but Rammbwa has denied this,” he said.
He said people are desperate for water.
“Some people take advantage and fetch water from as far as Rabali village and sell it here,” Netshituni said.
He said to fill a 500l water tank costs R350, a drum of water costs R50, while a 25l container of water costs R12.
Tshinyadziwa Mudau, a resident, said she wants the project to continue because she was tired of buying water.
Tarcron Project Manager Matodzi Makhoshi said the company has started with the termination of contracts and those people will be out of the payroll by Thursday.
“We have never involved ourselves in the hiring of the locals. The hiring part was done by the community itself and they gave us a list of those who fulfilled the requirements,” he said.
Spokesperson for the Vhembe District Municipality Matodzi Ralushai said the project is part of the Mutshedzi regional water scheme which has an allocation of R103.7 million rand and it is 71% complete.
“When completed, it will supply water to Divhani, Dzanani, ha-Maphaha and Rabali area,” said Ralushai.
