Today marks another milestone reached and achieved in the delivery of basic services to our communities. The delivery of safe potable water and dignified sanitation remains a cornerstone of the Department of Water and Sanitation together with its partners at provincial and local levels of government.
In this regard the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Ms Pamela Tshwete, accompanied by the Mayor of Umsobomvu LM Cllr Nombulelo Hermans, was active today within the community of Umsobomvu Local Municipality to bring services and necessary relief to the community. This relief is embodied in the delivery of this very critical piece of infrastructure: the refurbished Colesberg Water Treatment Works.
The refurbished water treatment works will ensure that the realities that affect not just Umsobomvu LM but the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality as a whole receive the necessary attention. The important catalyst that necessitated this event is the truth in the fact that like the rest of the country, there continues to be more and more urbanisation happening. The rise in the number of households in the area meant that there is an increase on the demand for the basic services that government is responsible for. A further reality is that the increased number of households led to a negative impact on the ability of the municipality to deal with water services’ backlogs.
Whilst the demand for services from the municipality grew, there exists also the reality of the high unemployment rate amongst residents. It is important to understand the reality of the low revenue collection possibility in the area, which reality government had to take into consideration and make a deliberate decision that the indigent population in Umsobomvu LM also deserves high standard and quality services.
The refurbished Water Treatment Works will adequately support the cornerstone of the economy in the region: agriculture. The continued breeding of the high quality racehorses and merino sheep will fully benefit from this project.
Umsobomvu LM has attained 96% access to water services, amounting to about twenty-seven thousand, three-hundred and eighteen (27 318) people.
With regard to sanitation, access stands at 90%. Working together, the DWS, province, district and local municipalities to assist with the remaining two-thousand nine-hundred and twenty-eight (2 928) people still outside of this service; which backlog is primarily around the informal settlements. The Northern Cape Bucket Eradication Programme (BEP) currently in its planning phase will be the vehicle through which that part of the sanitation backlog related to the bucket system, will be addressed.
The commissioning of this Colesberg Water Treatment Works will, married to the supply of sustainable potable water services, assist with the reality of the delivery of water-borne sanitation services too.
Whilst government continues to install new infrastructure deputy Minister indicated that: “In conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity to remark that this infrastructure belongs to all of us, government and community. It is therefore our joint and collective responsibility to ensure it remains protected and far divorced from vandalism and theft. We must report all illegal activities to the municipality and the police.
“The theft and vandalism of infrastructure remains a sore point for this government. Let us ensure we retain the infrastructure in its pristine condition so that we can enjoy the collective benefits as a people”.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
