Question NW766 to the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
01 October 2019 - NW766
Mohlala, Mr M to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
In light of the fact that the Government recently unveiled De Hoop Dam in the Sekhukhune area whereas neighbouring communities (details furnished) living near the dam still have no access to water, by what date will the specified communities have access to piped, running tap water?
Reply:
The villages in questions fall within the Nebo Plateau Bulk Water Supply project that is still under construction. The project is funded through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and implemented by the Sekhukhune District Municipality. The project is implemented in phases and currently the connection pipeline from De Hoop Dam and the water treatment works at Ga-Malekana are completed and partially commissioned to supply villages of Ga-Masha and Ga-Maphopha. The supply at Ga Maphopha is however constrained due to reservoir capacity that is currently being addressed by the District Municipality through MIG funding. The project progress is at 82% and the anticipated completion date is 30 September 2019.
The overall project progress is at 83% and construction is in progress for Makgeru to Schoornoord pipeline which will supply water to Makgane, Tshehlwaneng and Schoornoord. The project has been delayed by non-delivery of ductile pipes by the local service provider appointed by Sekhukhune District Municipality. The municipality is in the process of terminating the contract of the supplier in a bid to appoint a new supplier. Due to these delays, the project is now anticipated to be completed by the end of February 2020.
The villages of Ga-Marishana and Ga-Masemola are covered through a pipeline extending from Jane Furse to Lobethel. The project was put on hold due to poor performance by the contractor and the engineer appointed by the District Municipality. The Municipality has since terminated the contracts of both the engineer and contractor following failures to complete the project within the agreed timeframe. An assessment will be done on the constructed pipeline to determine the remaining scope and budgetary needs to complete the pipeline.
The village, Ga-Mampuru will benefit through a planned branch off the main pipeline from Ga-Malekana Water Treatment Works (WTW). The technical report was completed for bulk pipelines and the reservoir. However construction will only commence following the upgrading of the Water Treatment Works due to limited capacity of the water works. Currently the community is benefiting from the Boschkloof WTW which abstracts raw water from the Steelpoort River downstream of De Hoop dam. This community has access to tap water.
The full functionality of the Nebo Plateau Bulk Water Supply scheme will depend on the upgrading of the Malekana Water Treatment Works from the current 12Ml/d to 24Ml/d to provide for current and future needs. Proper planning and reconciliation of water demand and supply is required to ensure that instituted projects address the current and future needs of all the 40 villages in the Nebo plateau. The planning process is at an early stage and was delayed due to financial constraints.