As part of its commitment to transparency and accountability regarding expenditure of public funds, the Gert Sibande District Municipality’s (GSDM) Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), together with the Mkhondo Local Municipality MPAC, conducted a crucial official oversight visit to the construction site in Amsterdam.
This infrastructure project has reached Phase 04, necessitating the visit as an integral part of the Committees’ constitutional mandate to ensure proper public fund usage and stay updated on major municipal projects.
The MPAC delegation received a comprehensive briefing from project engineers and officials on the current construction status. These included key milestones successfully achieved and anticipated timelines for the remaining phases of this development.
GSDM’s Executive Mayor, Cllr. Walter Mngomezulu, expressed strong confidence in the project’s momentum. He highlighted the Gabosch Dam’s profound significance, describing it as one of South Africa’s biggest infrastructure undertakings.
The major goal of this multi-million rand undertaking is to increase water security and enhance service delivery within the Mkhondo region.
“We anticipate full completion of the project by October 2026. The Dam is expected to supply water to more than 19,000 households and it is one of the first dams to be built in Mpumalanga and the second in the country,” Mngomezulu said.
He also spoke about the increasing challenges regarding drawing raw water from rivers; noting that some pumps had gone missing during the rainy season.
To mitigate future water supply risks, he announced future plans to develop another dam within the district.
The municipality is considering a site for another project in Mpuluzi, under the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality, reflecting its proactive strategy to secure sustainable water resources for the District’s residents.
The completion of the Gabosch Dam is poised to be a game-changer for the region in addressing water scarcity and serving as a model for infrastructure development and accountability.
