By OBAKENG MAJE
The community of Manthe village near Taung welcomed the intervention from the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) on a R1 billion Taung Bulk Water Supply project.
This comes after the community members embarked on a violent protest and brought the project to a grinding halt this week alleging that there are discrepancies taking place .
One of the residents, Lebogang Bokgwathile, alleged that the Phalaborwa Company that has been appointed to install pipelines for abstraction of water from the iconic Taung Dam to the Taung Water Treatment Plant and reservoir in Morokweng village was not eloquently introduced to the community.
“We have written a letter of grievances to the GTLM after so many things were not properly done. The contractor was not introduced appropriately, the job opportunities within the project were not advertised timeously.
“Also proper processes were not followed when the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) and the Occupational Health and Safety Officer were appointed,” Bokgwatile said.
He further said they also requested an explanation on why the site project was not standalone, but instead being erected in someone’s yard. Bokgwatile added that they are grateful because now the project has been put on hold until all their grievances are addressed.
“We call on the contractor to follow the law by appointing local Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) as sub-contractors as part of skill development,” he said.
Another resident, Butiki Ntwayagae shared the same sentiments. Ntwayagae said the challenge of creating job opportunities for locals has been a long-standing debate within society in general and the business community in particular.
Ntwayagae said, this has caused tension within the community because there were individuals who wanted self-maximisation and profit growth not to have a commensurate impact on society – but for them alone.
The GTLM mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe said: “We have reached an agreement that the project will be put on hold until we meet with all stakeholders involved. We can also attest that the project was not introduced to us as it comes from the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.
“However, we will be meeting all stakeholders on Tuesday to find a lasting solution. The community members alleged that there was no advertisement for employment, but instead mouth-to-mouth advertising was used.”
Gaoraelwe said when the project comes from either national, provincial or regional, it should go through the local municipality, because they have the constituency. He added that there is no proper steering committee for the project either.
“The proper steering committee must have terms of reference and the roadmap for the project. Remember, the steering committee consists of the ward councillor, ward committee member responsible for infrastructure, project manager, CLO and two ordinary members of the community, who are elected during a community meeting.
“There should also be a tribal authority and municipality representatives. Normally, the Human Resource, the PMU from the local municipality and contractor should form part of the panel that will run interviews and appoint suitable candidates for the positions,” he said.
Gaoraelwe said on the issue of SMMEs, they explained to them that the contractor should outline all job descriptions s/he will need from local expertise.
In the statement, the Water and Sanitation department said the Taung Water Bulk Supply project was expected to be completed by the end of April 2021.
The Water and Sanitation department spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau said in a statement: “The project is funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), with approximately R1 billion allocated to the project.
“The project is one of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) major infrastructure projects in the North West, aimed at developing water infrastructure that will meet the needs of the community and ensure water security.
“The construction of an adequate infrastructure such as the Taung Bulk Water Supply that can support and supply efficient safe water to communities in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, therefore is a critical input to sustainable growth and development,” Ratau said.
He said the scheme, which is implemented in phases, has created 304 jobs thus far and 189 139 households in more than 55 villages have been targeted to benefit from this water project.
The Guardian 