Minister Mchunu to conduct oversight visit on the refurbishment and upgrading of water supply schemes in KwaHlabisa and Mtubatuba, in uMkhanyakude District
Following the Water Services Act’ Section 63 intervention in the uMkhanyakude District, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu together with Deputy Minister David Mahlobo and Deputy Minister Judith Tshabalala, will embark on a ministerial visit to the northern KwaZulu-Natal district, to conduct an oversight visit on the refurbishment and upgrading of water supply schemes in kwaHlabisa and Mtubatuba Local Municipalities on the 11 and 12 May 2023 respectively.
Minister Mchunu, in February last year invoked Section 63 of the Water Services Act, 108 of 1997, to intervene on the water challenges that were being experienced by the district municipality, and appointed Mhlathuze Water as an Implementing Agent, to take over the management, operations and maintenance of the water and sanitation infrastructure in order to restore the services within the district. The District Municipality has 4 local municipalities, namely: Big Five Hlabisa, Mtubatuba, Jozini and Mhlabuyalingana local municipalities.
The Ministerial visit seeks to assess the district’s state of water supply schemes in the two municipalities that are currently being implemented to alleviate water challenges in those areas.
The Ministerial delegation will also host meetings with the Mhlathuze Water, uMkhanyakude District together with The Big 5 Hlabisa and Mtubatuba local municipalities, uMkhanyakude district Water User Associations and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial House of Traditional Leaders; and also hold engagements with the communities of kwaHlabisa and Mtubatuba to provide an update and plans for the water supply projects.
Members of the media are invited to the events to be held as follows:
Day 1: Thursday, 11 May 2023
Session 1: Community Engagement
Venue: Mkhaliphi Stadium, eNhlwathi, KwaHlabisa,
Time: 09h00
Session 2: Community Engagement
Venue: Iholo lamakhosi (kwaHlabisa town)
Time: 14h00
Day 2: Friday, 12 May 2023
Session 1: Project Site Visit
Venue: Bhoboza Water Supply Scheme
Time: 10h00
Session 2: Community Engagement
Venue: KwaMsane Sports Ground, Mtubatuba
Time: 11h30
For media RSVP’s please contact Mbali Mahaye on 082 601 5674 / mahayem@dws.gov.za or Lebogang Maseko on 083 661 7859 Email: MasekoL2@dws.gov.za
For more information, contact Wisane Mavasa, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 060 561 8935 / mavasaw@dws.gov.za or Kamogelo Mogotsi, Spokesperson for the Ministry on 076 523 0085.
