Dear Media
Kindly take note that the handover of the Ikwezi water project has been postponed.
The new date of the handover will be communicated in due course.
Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, MP, the Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental, will handover an intervention water quality and quantity project to Ikwezi Local Municipality on Thursday, 28 November 2013, in Jansenville, Eastern Cape.
This intervention project manifests a result of the collaboration between the Department of Water Affairs, Cacadu District and Ikwezi Local municipalities. The Ikwezi Local Municipality is situated in a water scarce area and has a challenge of poor quality ground water. The water becomes depleted in the drought periods in Karoo cluster and this also affects Ikwezi Local Municipality.
The samples taken by the Department of Water Affairs on Jansenville’s boreholes indicated that the quality of borehole water supplying Jansenville was so poor that it may lead to real and significant risk to public health. The high sulphur content in the water caused rotten egg smell.
The interventions made at this municipality include amongst others; a special grant of R3.2 million from the Department of Water Affairs through the Accelerated Community Infrastructure programme (ACIP); R2.7 million for the erection of Rain Water Harvesting Tanks (RWH) including accessories like tanks, stands and gutters.
Through this allocation a total of 435 tanks were erected; the sum of R1 million was granted to deal with pressing water loss management challenges through the installation of zone meters; R600 000 for household leak repairs; R300 000 to train process controllers. To reinforce the intervention Cacadu District Municipality allocated R1 million for exploratory drilling which resulted in high yield borehole with much better quality.
Through this intervention the Green Drop status improved from 2.9% to about 60%. The Department of Water Affairs is also in a process of completing a feasibility study that will determine what actions are needed for long term water supply for Jansenville.
Media are invited to attend the handover ceremony as follows:
Date: Thursday, 28 November 2013
Time: 09h00
Venue: Town Hall, Jansenville
For RSVP’s and media enquiries:
Peter Mbelengwa, Spokesperson for the Deputy Minister
Cell: 082 611 8197
E-mail: mbelengwap@dwa.gov.za
