His Excellency President Jacob Zuma of the Republic of South Africa will officially launch the War on Leaks campaign in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape on Friday 28 August 2015. The President will be hosted by the Department of Water and Sanitation Minister Ms Nomvula Mokonyane and her Deputy Ms Pamela Tshwete (MP), accompanied by the Premier of the Eastern Cape Mr Phumulo Masualle, MEC of COGTA Mr Fikile Xasa and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Dr Danny Jordan.
The War on Leaks campaign is about dealing with water that is unaccounted for which is caused by leaking taps and pipes, illegal connections, etc.
During the 2015 State of the Nation Address, President Zuma announced that the government through the Department of Water and Sanitation will train 15 000 artisans and/or plumbers to fix leaking taps and pipes in their communities as part of promoting water conservation. The President went on to say that the government loses R7 billion to water losses annually.
Minister Mokonyane appointed Rand Water to implement the War on Leaks project. It is expected to run over a number of years whereby the 15 000 unemployed youth will be trained within three disciplines, namely water agents, artisans and plumbers; this to ensure that South Africa’s Water and Sanitation Sector is equipped with a competent arsenal of skills and capacity to minimize water losses in the country.
The training will be done in phases:
Phase 1 – 3 000 learners will be trained during 2015/2016
Phase 2 – 5 000 learners will be trained during 2016/2017
Phase 3 – 7 000 learners will be trained during 2017/2018
There will be build up activities leading to the main launch on Friday 28th. To begin with, the mobilisation will start on 25-27 August 2015 whereby communities will be given flyers with messages at taxi ranks, train stations and malls around Nelson Mandela Bay.
The media is invited to attend as follows:
Date: Friday 28 August 2015
Venue: Dan Qeqe Stadium in Zwide, Port Elizabeth
Time: 09h00
For RSVP and media enquiries:
Ratau Sputnik: Spokesperson for the department
Cell: 082 874 2942
Tel: 012 336 6813
E-mail: rataus@dws.gov.za
Zenzile Mandilakhe: Eastern Cape Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 082 883 5293
Tel: 043 604 5528
E-mail: zenzilem@dws.gov.za
Ngcume Thandile: Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 082 659 1422
Tel: 043 604 5418
E-mail: NgcumeT@dws.gov.za
