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Residents in Matatiele are being drawn into discussions around a major water infrastructure project as Alfred Nzo District Municipality prepares for an oversight visit linked to the R53 million Thulamela Water Project.
The municipality said a stakeholder engagement session is being held at Mpharane Community Hall in Ward 13 as part of a pre-engagement process ahead of the oversight visit.
According to the municipality, the visit is intended to assess progress on the ground, compare project delivery against official reports, and evaluate whether spending on the project aligns with service delivery outcomes.
The development matters for communities across Alfred Nzo, where access to reliable water infrastructure remains a long-standing concern in several rural areas.
Municipal oversight visits are often used to identify delays, construction problems, or gaps between project budgets and actual delivery. For affected residents, the outcome of these inspections can influence how quickly infrastructure problems are addressed and whether contractors are held accountable.
Executive Mayor Cllr Tsileng Sobuthongo also conveyed condolences to a local community following the reported killing of an elderly businesswoman. The mayor is expected to visit the bereaved family after the project oversight activities.
Following the stakeholder engagement, the mayor and municipal delegation are expected to conduct a site walkabout linked to the water project.
“This R53 million project must reflect value for money and meet the expectations of our communities. We are here to ensure accountability and to listen to the voices of our people,” said Executive Mayor Cllr Sobuthongo.
Water access and infrastructure reliability continue to affect many rural communities in the Eastern Cape, particularly during periods of drought, ageing infrastructure failures, or delayed municipal projects. Oversight processes linked to public spending are therefore likely to draw attention from residents who depend on these services daily.
