Decades late, the long-awaited Umzimvubu Water Project is trundling ahead, with the department of water and sanitation saying it will complete the construction of the Ntabelanga Dam, which cuts across villages in Nqanqarhu and Qumbu, in the next five years.
Mooted since the 1960s, the project, when completed, will include three dams — Ntabelanga, Lalini and Mbokazi.
Ntabelanga and Lalini will dam the Tsitsa River while the Mbokazi Dam will be built on the Mzimvubu River in Lusikisiki.
One will store water for drinking while two will mainly produce hydropower.
At least three post-1994 presidents have mentioned the project in their state of the nation addresses.
Last week, the Daily Dispatch visited different villages where the dams will be constructed.
Some intended beneficiaries are sceptical about whether the project will ever become a reality.
Many highlighted lack of access to potable water they thought would be solved by the dams.
They also complained about joblessness.
The project has been punted by the national government as having the potential to create more than 6,000 jobs in the construction phase.
Though not much actual dam construction has begun, in Somerville Village, Nqanqarhu, building of access roads for the Ntabelanga Dam have already commenced, with the department saying it would get a dam construction permit by June.
The department of water and sanitation also promised to complete construction of the access road by November.
Department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said designs for the Ntabelanga Dam were at an advanced stage.
“As soon as a permit is received, construction will commence. A licence to construct is expected in July 2024,” she said.
The Ntabelanga Dam, with a capacity of 490-million cubic metres, will cut across several villages in Mhlontlo and Elundi municipalities.
In the OR Tambo district municipality alone it will provide water to 55,985 households.
“By 2030, 359,524 people are expected to benefit from the scheme,” Mavasa said.
“The construction of the Ntabelanga Dam is expected to be completed by March 2030.”
On a visit to the site in Somerville on Thursday last week, much construction could be seen under way at the heavily guarded site.
The other two dams, intended mainly for hydropower production, are not yet under construction.
The Lalini project has pins marking the parameters of the dam, but little work has been done on Mbokazi.
Water and sanitation insiders say a site has not been identified.
“Private companies have started the process of applying for the water use licences required for construction,” Mavasa said.
“Now, the application process is at the phase 1 pre-application stage and will be concluded by June 2024.
“At the end of the pre-application stage, the applicants will be furnished with a letter of technical and administrative information requirements which must be compiled for a period not exceeding six months.
“We expect the information to be submitted by December 2024/January 2025.
“The department will process the applications and make a decision by the end of May 2025.”
The construction of the Ntabelanga Dam will see 81 families moved from their homes, though it is still unclear where they will go.
Traditional leaders said communities would not compromise on the suitability of the new site.
The move will include relocating graves, a sensitive process with traditional rituals.
Jamangile ka Mabandla Royal Family Council spokesperson Zwelothando Mabandla said traditional leaders were waiting for the department to take them on a walkabout, showing them the boundary of the dam and those who would be affected.
The delay in the project’s implementation had seen traditional leaders losing land earmarked to accommodate people, which now has been allocated for RDP houses.
“The one thing that can delay the construction ... [the people] who are going to be moved, where will they be moved to?
“In principle, we have agreed because we need water,” Mabandla said.
“Most of the people accept it, depending on whether the alternative site is satisfactory.”
Mabandla said they wanted to identify suitable places on farms in Nqanqarhu (formerly Maclear) with arable land.
Nkonkweni Administrative Area chief Jongilizwe Hlathi said his people welcomed the dam but also only if they were moved to a suitable area.
“We want them to be moved to a place that is acceptable.
“They must be built homes where they can live the way they lived their lives before.
“The graves must be moved and relocated in a suitable manner.”
Hlathi said it was not clear who would be moved.
“The department promised it would comply with all the families’ demands.
“For instance, each household has rituals when they move graves.
“We are Mpondomise, you can’t just move graves without doing the rituals.”
However, not everyone is optimistic that the deadline will be met.
A villager, part of the traditional leadership in Mpetsheni village who did not want to be identified due to his involvement in the negotiations, said given the scope of work, he did not think the project would be completed on time.
“Not in our lifetime — maybe our grandkids will benefit from the project.”
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