GIYANI, LIMPOPO — Chronic Giyani water shortages continue to plague residents across several villages in the province, leaving communities to rely on expensive private boreholes while multi-billion rand infrastructure projects face severe delays. Despite the installation of new pipes, villages such as Siyandhani report receiving little to no running water for years, sparking intense frustration over stalled service delivery.
The root of the crisis is largely attributed to the stalled Giyani bulk water project and the Giyani water service project. Originally launched in 2014 with the mandate to supply reliable water to 55 villages in and around Giyani, the massive infrastructure initiatives have been heavily delayed. Over the years, the projects have been marred by allegations of corruption and significant budgetary shortfalls, leaving the promised relief out of reach for local communities.
As a result of the prolonged dry taps, residents have been forced to purchase water from private borehole owners. Locals report paying 350 rand to fill a water tank and 2 rand for a single tub, placing a severe financial strain on households.
“Here in Giyani, sometimes we get water, sometimes we don’t,” one resident explained. “Previously, we have seen projects being carried out and pipes were installed, but still, there’s no water. For us to have water, we must have money to buy. When you have money, that’s when you can fill up your tank for 350 or fill up your tub for two from those who have boreholes. If you don’t have money, there’s no way you can get water. It’s very hard for us.”
The lack of basic water provision has also fueled deep political disillusionment among the community. Residents expressed anger that local authorities only seem to pay attention to their plight during election seasons or times of mourning.
“We are worried that the government only cares about us when they want us to vote for them,” another community member stated. “When we have challenges that need to be resolved, they are nowhere to be found. We only get water when there is a funeral, and we wonder how many people should die for us to get water.”
In response to the growing crisis, a spokesperson for the Mopani District Municipality stated that the reticulation and household connection phase of the project is now at an advanced stage.
According to the municipality spokesperson, the project has reached 99.9% physical progress. This critical phase includes the construction of elevated water tanks, the laying of extensive reticulation pipelines, and the establishment of household yard connections.
Furthermore, the spokesperson confirmed that the municipality has successfully completed the refurbishment of the Giyani water treatment works. This upgrade is expected to improve plant reliability, significantly reduce water losses, and optimize the treatment works’ overall production capacity.
To ensure the swift resolution of the crisis, the Mopani District Municipality noted that they continue to collaborate closely with the water entity Lepelle Northern Water to expedite the remaining water supply programs under the district’s mandate.
