Senzo Mchunu, Minister of Water and Sanitation, claims that the water pipeline from Nandoni to Nsami, where 4 km remain for connection, has made significant progress.
The work to renovate the current water works will begin at the beginning of September, according to Mchunu, who briefed the media on the situation with water and sanitation a year after taking over the portfolio.
He said that they anticipate the reservoir to be finished and functioning by February 2023 in Malamulele.
“There is another project involving the Mokopane pipeline and the pipelines from the De Hoop Dam and Flag Boshielo. The Lebalelo Water User Association and mines are partners in this endeavour. We are keeping an eye on the project’s and this partnership’s development, Mchunu remarked.
Positive outcomes come from the Nelson Mandela Bay intervention.
The department’s engagement in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, according to Mchunu, has produced fruitful outcomes.
The department is looking at further strategies to extend the usage of the water supply as they continue to collaborate with the municipality.
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The Nooitgedacht Water Scheme, which began discharging its first drops at the end of March this year, was one way we helped the metro. This has significantly contributed to the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality’s increased water supply.
This past Tuesday, we successfully held a workshop with the goal of developing a water-resilient Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. The involvement and contributions from all guests, including those from industry and academia, among others, were overwhelmingly positive, according to Mchunu.
Obstacles to water in Hammanskraal
Mchunu said that the department in Gauteng is still in contact with the City of Tshwane on the water issues in Hammanskraal.
Although the City of Tshwane has the resources to repair and upgrade its system, the Minister observed that “they are dragging their heels in terms of completing their job.”
He cited four areas of work in Emfuleni—renovating treatment plants and pump stations, unblocking, replacing, and renovating pipes—as making excellent progress.
We worked with Emfuleni Local Municipality to make sure they were fully accountable for their water and sewage systems.
According to Mchunu, the department is addressing the ongoing water and sanitation issues in the Free State’s Matjhabeng, Mangaung, Kopanong, and Maluti-A-Phofung communities via Bloem Water.
overcoming obstacles in KZN
According to Mchunu, floods in KwaZulu-Natal in April worsened the water and sanitation situation since much of the infrastructure needed to provide water and sanitation services was destroyed.
According to him, the department has taken action against the uMkhanyakude District Municipality and has directed Mhlathuze Water to act as an implementing agent.
“We have the uMkhomazi Water Project, which will help Harry Gwala, eThekwini, Msunduzi, uMgungundlovu, and Ugu. In order to supplement the uMngeni Water Supply System, which provides household water to more than five million people and businesses in South Africa’s third-largest regional economy—the Durban and Pietermaritzburg regions—the project would transport water from the uMkhomazi River. In a recent meeting with the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority, the Water Boards in KZN, and all of the impacted Water Services Authorities, we came to an agreement on the offtake agreements that would need to be signed. The direction we are going in and the desire of all parties to cooperate makes me delighted,” Mchunu said.
Bill for the Water Resource Infrastructure Agency
Mchunu declared that the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency Bill had passed and that the department was now in the consultation phase.