Question NW2963 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
10 October 2023 - NW2963
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
In light of the ongoing challenges faced by the cash-strapped City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, what are the relevant details of the immediate interventions and support measures that he has put in place to assist the municipality in overcoming the pressing issues and ensuring uninterrupted access to water services for its residents?
Reply:
The interventions that have been put in place by the Department of Water and Sanitation to assist the City of Tshwane (CoT) with the challenges relating to water services include the following interventions:
a) The Department has issued a directive to Magalies Water Board as per Section 41 of the Water Services Act,1997; for short to medium term measures to address water challenges in Hammaskraal while government is looking at a long-term solution.
b) Magalies Water Board has presented a proposal to the Department in the form of a business plan, which amongst others, proposes the construction of a water treatment package plant to provide immediate relief. The package plant will be situated at Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant premises.
c) The package plant will produce drinking water on a gradual basis water starting with 10 Ml/day up 40Ml/day which will be connected to the Temba water reticulation system. It is envisaged that the project will start delivering at least 10 Ml /day by end of March 2024.
d) An amount of R480 million has been availed by DWS through the budget adjustment (pending National Treasury approval) to ensure that this business plan is implemented by Magalies Water Board.
e) Furthermore, Magalies Water has applied to the DBSA for a loan for the remainder of the funding that is required to construct the package plant – this is pending approval from DBSA. In the meantime, Magalies Water is proceeding with planning and design work for the package plant to ensure that timeline committed is met.
f) As a result of the non-compliance of the Rooivaal waste water treatment works (WWTW) which might have resulted in the cholera outbreak, the city of Tshwane (CoT) has set aside R150 million in the 2023/24 financial year to upgrade and refurbish the Rooiwal wastewater treatment works. This will ensure that phase 1 of the Rooivaal Waste Water Treatment work upgrade is completed.
g) The CoT is finalising the appointment of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) as the implementing agent for this phase of the project, while a technical team comprising of the DWS, CoT, Magalies and Rand Water is assessing the overall long-term plan to address the Rooivaal challenges and further improvements to the Temba water treatment works to ensure delivery of portable water which meets drinking water quality standards from the Temba water treatment work to Hamman kraal.
h) In the long term, the CoT is planning to upgrade the Rooivaal WWTW by an additional 80 Megalitres / day which requires close to R 2.5 bn. Currently there is no funding for available this. However, the CoT is approaching various funding institutions soliciting funding.
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