Ramaphosa did not travel to KZN to open one tap, says Presidency

The Presidency has clarified that a viral video where President Cyril Ramaphosa was seen opening a tap in northern KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend was taken out of context and should be seen as government’s “total commitment to accelerate the delivery of water”. 

“The president was seen visiting a home that has recently had a tap installed and people mockingly suggested the president was presiding over the opening of a tap, which was not the case,” Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Wednesday.

Ramaphosa was lambasted for reportedly cutting a ribbon for a tap in the Jozini municipality for the official opening of the Bhekindoda water scheme at the weekend. 

Social media was abuzz after a video surfaced showing Ramaphosa asking an elderly woman to open the tap so he could see whether there was running water. On seeing running water, the crowd ululated and cheered when Ramaphosa washed his hands. 

Magwenya conceded government did not provide the necessary information before the oversight visit to the Umkhanyakude district municipality.  

He said Ramaphosa visited two homes out of 464 households that are home to thousands of people who have benefited from the greater Ingwavuma scheme in the Bhekindoda area.  

“The project scope there includes the construction of secondary bulk infrastructure and the laying of secondary bulk pipeline, the laying of reticulation network pipeline, the installation of yard taps to each household as well as the associated infrastructure.”

Magwenya said this followed an intervention by water and sanitation minister Senzo Mchunu, who had placed the water services authority in the district under the Water Services Act to allow the department to help the district improve water supply to communities. 

“This project needs to be viewed in line with the bigger effort that has been led by this administration and minister Mchunu to not only revive water projects that had gridlocked for many years but also to accelerate the improvement and pace with which we deliver water to communities, as well as the quality of that water.” 

These include the R40bn phase two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project for Gauteng, R26bn Umkhomazi Water Project in KwaZulu-Natal, R4bn phase two (A) of the Mokolo Crocodile West water augmentation project in North West and Limpopo, as well as the R10bn Vaal Gamagara Water Project in the Northern Cape, among others. 

“That oversight visit must then be viewed within the totality of the overall commitment by his administration to accelerate the delivery of water, to improve the quality of water and, where necessary, intervene where municipalities are struggling to deliver water. 

“The president is always keen to visit projects that are in construction phase. You would have seen him going to Lesotho to be part of triggering the blast for this phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.”  

He said Ramaphosa has a general fascination with build environments, “so he will visit one or two homes where a tap has been installed which is part of a broader scheme. There was an unfortunate impression that was given that the president travelled all the way to northern KwaZulu-Natal to preside over the opening of one tap. No, it is not the case. You will see him visiting a lot more water-related projects in the coming months.” 

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