Integrated strategy to tackle water woes

Limpopo Premier Chupu Mathabatha has directed the MEC for cooperative governance, housing and traditional affairs to facilitate engagements with the department of water and sanitation, and all water authority entities and municipalities to review poor service delivery mechanisms regarding the delivery of water.

This comes as the province aims to address the challenges of delivering water to communities. Last month, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu made R143 million available for drought relief in Moutse.

“The commitment of R143 million will go a long way towards addressing water challenges in Moutse, Motetema and surrounding areas,” said Mathabatha.

“Notwithstanding these positive developments, we are still not comfortable with the status of water service delivery and infrastructure in the province,” said the premier.

However, he indicated that progress was being made regarding the completion of the Polokwane Bulk Water Scheme.

Mathabatha said the Polokwane Regional Wastewater Treatment Works was at more than 74% of physical progress, and that the Sekororo-Mametja Bulk Water Supply project was at 97% overall progress.

The other projects at various stages of completion include the Nebo Bulk Water Supply project at 90% of physical progress; the Moutse Water Treatment Works at 90%; the Malekana Water Treatment Works at 90%; and the Nandoni to Nsami Pipeline project at 54%.

Others include the Sinthumule-Kutama Bulk Water Supply project, which is at 47% of physical progress, and the Giyani Water Service project, which is at 17%.

Mathabatha said planning had been completed for the Olifantspoort Water Scheme, and an upgrade of Nandoni Water Treatment Works was at the planning stage.

Read: There is not enough water for SA – Lindiwe Sisulu

Mathabatha also revealed that there was impressive progress regarding the implementation of the province’s road infrastructure projects.

“Along the same vein, we appreciate the 10km project for the expansion of the R81 road between Munnik and Ga-Sekgopo. These projects, together with the Moloto road to Marble Hall, are currently under construction,” he said.

Mathabatha added that the province had made great strides regarding the mandate to connect households to the electricity grid.

“The target we set for ourselves in terms of the Limpopo Development Plan was to connect 90% of households to electricity by last year. I am happy to report that we have surpassed this target. As we speak, 92% of households in Limpopo are connected to electricity,” he said.

He added that government committed to building a total of 10 456 housing units last year. This included the rollover from the 2018/19 financial year of 3 921 housing units.

“To date, 6 232 housing units have been completed. The remainder are at various stages of construction and will be completed by the end of this financial year,” he said. – Mukurukuru Media

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