Question NW968 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
10 May 2021 - NW968
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1) With regard to the (a) Mopani District Municipality and (b) Maruleng Local Municipality, (i) what is the status of the outstanding repairs to the water pipeline from Blyde River to the Hoedspruit Air Force Base and (ii) who is responsible for the repairs to the pipeline;- (2) what is the status of the contract signed in 2004 between her department and the Blyde River Water Utility Company (Pty) Ltd which runs until 2024; (3) what service level agreements are in place to ensure that the Department of Defence meets its financial commitments in respect of the water usage;- (4) whether the Maruleng Local Municipality is being charged for its water usage; if not, (a) why not and (b) who is paying the water usage; if so, (i) is it being metered correctly and (ii) who is invoicing for the water usage; (5) what (a) role will her department play in the completion of the Mametja-Sekororo bulk water project and (b) are the relevant details of the project including anticipated costs and anticipated completion dates?
Reply:
(1) (a,b,i,ii) I have been informed by the Department that DPWI is not aware of the status of the outstanding repairs to the water pipeline from the Blyde River to the Hoedspruit Air Force Base as this is the function of the Blyde River Water Utility Company (Pty) Ltd as stated in clause 6.1 of the Agreement, which states that the DPWI pays a specified amount to the water utility company in contribution to the maintenance and operating expenses of the pipeline.
(2) The contract is still in place. The only new development is that payments to the Blyde River Water Utility Company (Pty) Ltd are now effected by the User Department, the Department of Defence, as per the devolution of municipal services in July 2020.
(3) There is no service level agreement in this regard. As stated in the contract mentioned above, it was agreed that the Department of Water Affairs would take over after the expiry of the contract. Since the changes in legislation and district municipality as an entity that is regarded as the Water Services Authority, the DPWI has started to look at this agreement together with the Maruleng Local municipality, Mopani District Municipality and will also engage the Department of Water Affairs. Engagements have already started on the 17th March 2021 to address this issue.
(4) (a) No, the Maruleng Municipality used to pay the Department but has stopped paying since 2012 after floods impacted the water quality . The Department initiated meetings with the municipality to resolve the issue of payments without success. A meeting was held on 17 of March 2021 between DPWI, Mopani District Municipality and Maruleng Municipality to have a permanent solution to the matter and the Municipality has agreed to make the payments. Meetings are to continue with all stakeholders.
(b) The DPWI has been paying the Blyde River Water Utility Company for bulk water usage at the Hoedspruit base on behalf of the Department of Defence, which has now been transferred to the Department of Defence, as per the devolution of municipal services in July 2020.
(i) Yes, metering is available.
(ii) No, invoicing to the municipality stopped due to the dispute on water quality.
(5) (a,b) The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has no role in the completion of the Mametja-Sekororo bulk water project.