The Department of Water and Sanitation, in collaboration with the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board and Msinsi Holdings, is set to conduct a traditional cleansing ceremony at Inanda Dam, kwaMsinsi. The event, scheduled for Monday, will be led by Minister Senzo Mchunu and aims to honor and provide closure to the families affected by the dam’s construction.
In the late 1980s, the construction of Inanda Dam necessitated the relocation of families from the Qadi, eMaphephetheni, KwaNgcolosi, and KwaQiniselani-Manyuswa Traditional Authorities. These families, who had lived along the uMngeni riverbanks and practiced ancestral burial traditions, were moved to various locations, and approximately 800 graves were exhumed and reburied, primarily at the Ntuzuma gravesite.
The ceremony seeks to address the concerns raised by the representatives of the four traditional authorities regarding the lack of traditional rites during the dam’s impounding. The event will also feature the unveiling of a monument of remembrance, symbolizing respect for the relocated graves and the families’ heritage.
Minister Mchunu, accompanied by provincial and local government leaders, as well as representatives from the traditional authorities and water entities, will oversee the ceremony. This act of remembrance aligns with government policies on land development, relocations, and compensations.
The Department of Water and Sanitation reaffirms its commitment to respecting cultural practices and addressing the historical impacts of infrastructure development on communities.
