Frustration over delays in completion of bulk water projects in NW

Government’s failure to complete a longstanding bulk water project in Setlagole outside Mahikeng in the North West has worsened the scarcity of water in the area. The project started 10 years ago.

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo visited the project and expressed frustration over the delays.

Seitlholo says the cost of the project has ballooned from R103 million to over R130 million.

“One must be able to indicate the level of unsatisfactory nature that has really found us to be in this project or facility today. I don’t think that it is something that is acceptable. Quite unfortunately, once the project is delayed, the costs would obviously escalate and in many instances there would need to redesign certain scopes of the project which then also contributes to the rising costs of the project, says Seitlholo.

Magalies Water Acting Chief Operations Officer Sibongiseni Mbadamana has given the assurance that the project will be completed by March next year.

“I would say contractor management, contractor competence and the issues of contractors not having sufficient cashflows. You would recall that there was also interruption of COVID. This project is one of the projects that was affected by COVID and of course, this issue of vandalism that also played in,” says Mbadamana.