Keynote address by the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Hon.Pamela Tshwete at the visiting of the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme
Programme Director
Executive Mayor of iLembe District Municipality
Deputy Executive Mayor of iLembe District Municipality
Mayor of KwaDukuza Local Municipality
Mayor of Mandeni Local Municipality
Traditional Leaders
Councillors
Chairperson of Umgeni Water
Chief Executive of Umgeni Water
Umgeni Water Board Members
Regional Head of the Department of Water and Sanitation
Officials
Law enforcement agencies
Members of the Community
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good afternoon
Molweni
Sanibonani
I wish to start by thanking each one of you for gracing us with your presence for this wonderful occasion. I would also like to wish you a Happy New Year, may it be a prosperous one full of rain. It gives me great pleasure once again to visit KwaZulu-Natal after my last visit in September 2018.
What always renews my hope and happiness is the fact that I always come to tell a good story. From the onset, I must thank and appreciate the good work done by Umgeni Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation KZN Region.
This province is one of the most rural in South Africa with a higher rate of poverty but with a very rich cultural and political history as many outstanding leaders come from here, historical giants such as King Shaka, King Bambatha, and Chief Albert Luthuli to name a few. The good work done by KwaZulu-Natal on issues of Water and Sanitation was also acknowledged during the Africa Water Week in Gabon when the city of eThekwini was recognised as one of the cities that provides better solutions for Water and Sanitation.
Similarly, in Stockholm Water Week, in Sweden, one of the finalists representing South Africa was Kwazi Zwezwe a learner from Ixopo High School.
I am here yet again to speak about the good work done at iLembe District Municipality in eMandeni Local Municipality. The assessment and analysis done in the North Coast revealed that there was a backlog and high demand for water in the coastal belt, and that prompted the need for a new portable bulk water supply scheme. The detailed planning and feasibility studies for the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply
Scheme began in 2008 and construction began in 2013 with six major contracts of two phases.
The area served by this scheme includes the town of KwaDukuza (iLembe District Municipality), kwaDukuza and Mandeni Local Municipality. The first phase of the Umgeni component was completed and commissioned in July 2017. This phase was designed to produce 55 mega litres of portable water per day. The design is however such that it is easily upgraded to a 110 millilitre plant. The scheme can provide reliable and high quality portable water to more than 300 000 (three hundred thousand) people.
To prove that the ANC-led government is a caring government 14 702 households have been connected to this system, based on an average of 88 212 beneficiaries that now have sustainable portable water supply. Ukhongolose uyaqhuba, siyasebenza sizisa iinkonzo ebantwini.
The total phase one budget is R1, 6 billion of which R900 million was provided through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG, DWS). A total of R378 million was spent on 20 Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME) that participated during construction, this is in line with our National Development Plan that emphasises development of SMMEs.
Thanks to Umgeni Water for their Contract Participation Goal Policy that is in line with the NDP. Temporary jobs of 160 000-person days of work were created and the total of R75 million paid in wages to the various labourers and artisans. As I have indicated above that this project has two phases, the estimated budget for phase two is R737 million. Phase 2 is currently at the design stage, we hope to come back soon to outline the process plan for the implementation of this phase.
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to urge the community to strengthen their efforts in saving water and re-using water for watering the gardens among other purposes. As we say, Water is Life and Sanitation is Dignity, every drop counts we must use water sparingly. Every rainfall must be seen as an opportunity to save water for we do not know when the dry season might strike again.
Similarly as part of our work, as caring government I have been reliable informed that Umgeni Water has adopted two schools as part of their community outreach programs. To the community I want express that this project belongs to you, you must protect, nurture it must not be vandalised. It is the responsibility of you as the community to protect and take good care of this project. We must further note that Climate change is a reality as it results to challenges of drought, how we use water is very important.
Thank you to Umgeni Water for hosting such a beautiful event and to the KZN Department of Water and Sanitation. Let us all continue to work together in achieving more with little. I hope to see you at Moses Mabhida on Saturday the 12th January 2019 when the President outlines the 5-year plan for the ruling party. Equally important on Saturday the 26 January and Sunday the 27 January 2019 it will be the last day of voter registration, we urge new voters to go and register and existing voters to update and check their registration details.
You know who to vote for, the messengers of the good news!
I thank you
