Question NW1270 to the Minister of Correctional Services
20 May 2016 - NW1270
Selfe, Mr J to ask the Minister of Correctional Services
(1)Whether the Barberton Correctional Services facility in the Umjindi Local Municipality in Mpumalanga has been without any water supply in the period 01 January 2016 up to the latest date for which information is available; if so, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) on what dates and (b) for how long was the specified facility without a water supply; (2) (a) what steps are (i) his department and/or (ii) any other (aa) national and/or (bb) provincial department taking to resolve water supply issues at the specified facility caused by low levels of the Lomati Dam, which supplies water to Barberton and (b) by when will the water supply issues at the specified facility be resolved?
Reply:
1. Yes, on 05 February 2016 a request was received from the municipality to reduce water supply. The municipality also requested the centre to likewise reduce the pressure to the centres and households.
It should be mentioned that from 15 December 2013 Umjindi Municipality started reducing the water pressure to the farm because of the water demands from the local community and the available water supply.
|
(1)(a) Period without Water |
(1)(b) Duration |
|
08 to 27 Feb 2016 |
20 Days |
|
12 to 14 March 2016 |
03 Days |
|
15 to 30 March 2016 |
16 Days |
|
02 April 2016 |
1 Day |
|
16 to 22 April 2016 |
07 Days |
|
27 April to 10 May 2016 |
14 Days |
(2)(a)(i) The Department has granted approval to the centre to procure its own water tank truck as well as JoJo tanks to supply water to the facilities and households.
Department of Correctional Services has requested the National Department of Public Works (NDPW) to investigate the possibility of boreholes on the farm and funds have been made available to implement a borehole water system
(2)(ii)(aa) Arrangements are in place between Department of Correctional Services and Umjindi Municipality with the assistance of Sappi to transport water to the centres using a tank truck.
(2)(ii)(bb) The water challenges of the province have been registered nationally due to the fact that the entire area is subjected to severe drought and the municipality reservoir is also empty
2(b) Procurement of the water tank truck will be through a Transversal Contract with National Treasury.
The borehole water system is dependent on the availability of under- ground water levels fed by rainfall, but National Department of Public Works has already started with the investigation process.