QwaQwa Community should afford the process a chance to unfold
The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, visited Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality on 23 January 2020. This was in response to the on-going water challenges experienced by the residents in the area.
Minister Sisulu on the day set the ball rolling towards bringing relief to the community of QwaQwa and surrounds.
There was clarity in Minister’s pronouncements that Sedibeng Water would be directed to immediately address water supply challenges in QwaQwa, and ensure that the desired end result is water availability and water through the taps in the long run. Sedibeng Water is therefore seized with this directive on behalf of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), working together with Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality (in whose jurisdiction the work is happening), and MAP Water has embarked on a concerted effort to ensure that there is water supply to the communities in the area.
The planned short-term intervention involves delivery of water to communities through water tankers, placement of plastic tanks (commonly referred to as JoJo tanks) as well as rationing of water. So far, 10 tankers of 16k litre capacity are on site delivering water to the affected areas. The drivers have been assigned local guides (Truck Attendants). To this end, 102 units of 5000 litre tanks (JoJo tanks) and 30 units of 10000 litre tanks (JoJo tanks) have been delivered.
Other measures to develop boreholes in areas such as Kestell/Tlholong Township Extension 5 are currently underway. Two boreholes were drilled and equipped to alleviate the challenges experienced in Ward 3. The two boreholes are supplying water into a packaged water treatment plant and then delivered to the Elevated Steel Tank. The elevated steel tank is connected to the water reticulation network. However, these boreholes will not completely solve the challenges experienced in Kestell due to network issues, which are being attended to with urgency, as per the directive of Minister Sisulu.
The medium-term measures include construction of a 4km pipeline from Comet Village to Ha-Rankopane Reservoir traversing two wards, which are 23 and 31. The pipeline is supplied from the Makwane Water Treatment Plant which obtains raw water from Metsi Matsho Dam. The pipes were delivered on Tuesday, 11 February 2020.
As much as Sedibeng Water is prioritizing these projects, stringent supply chain processes are applied in an attempt to keep everything above board. The initial plan was for the construction work to commence on the 15 February 2020, however due to unfinished consultation and other logistics, the work will be temporarily delayed. As soon as the recruitment of labour processes is complete, the project will commence immediately.
Sedibeng Water is sourcing labour from the local community in an effort to encourage local economic development. Continuous consultation is happening between all stakeholders involved and the community is encouraged to remain patient as the process to bring the desired outcomes continues to unfold. A lot of work has already been done on the ground and is continuing.
The QwaQwa community is also encouraged to not be discouraged by conflicting messages that end up with undue delays to the delivery of water indefinitely.
Minister Sisulu, as a national Minister, is also intervening in other water-stressed areas across the country as per her Constitutional mandate. As such she will avail herself whenever she can to deliver on her promises.
Minister Sisulu would also like to reiterate that whatever interventions she makes do not take away the responsibilities of water service authorities or local government, to look after and ensure that the infrastructure required for optimal basic services’ delivery is always in good condition. Any breakdown of infrastructure can have serious implications for all socio-economic development, and is therefore not at all desirable.
For enquiries:
Dr Tseliso Ntili, Provincial Head Free State
082 552 5590 or
Mr Sputnik Ratau,
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
082 874 2942 or
Mr Larry Crisp, Communications Manager: Department of Water and Sanitation, Free State
082 554 7271 or
