Despite on-going challenges, the delivery of water to the community of Alfred Nzo District Municipality will continue
The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, directed the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to respond accordingly to the advent of the Coronavirus pandemic in South Africa. Minister Sisulu did so as per the pronouncements of His Excellency the President, Matamela Ramaphosa of the country being in a State of National Disaster.
Minister Sisulu set the ball rolling towards bringing relief to the communities in water and sanitation distress by directing the DWS to roll out the necessary intervention in about 2 000 communities that were identified as being in need across the country.
The Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern is one such community.
There was clarity in Minister’s pronouncements that the intervention was to begin immediately and thus the setting up of the National Water and Sanitation Command Centre at the Head Office of Rand Water in the south of Johannesburg. Through the work of the Command Centre as co-chaired by the Acting Director-General of DWS Mr Mbulelo Tshangana, and the Chief Executive of Rand Water Mr Sipho Mosai, the roll out of the intervention plan came to life and was immediately shared across the sector including with municipalities and water boards, who would in turn be the implementing agents within their areas of operation.
Whilst a lot of work has happened as can be seen by the latest report on the intervention dated 19th of May, a hefty 17 962 tanks have been delivered across the country, with 11 978 of these installed; a total of 1 299 tankers (trucks) have been delivered to ensure the tanks remain in use.
With regards to Alfred Nzo District Municipality, the DWS and the stakeholders are continuing to deliver, notwithstanding the inherent challenges.
As per the report of 19th May, the Eastern Cape had 4 494 tanks installed and in use, with 201 tankers delivered, of which 169 are in use. Alfred Nzo DM has received 482 tanks which are also in use, with 13 tankers delivered. A further 7 tankers are awaited as soon as the procurement processes are completed. These will ensure that much better security of supply is achieved.
In all of this, the office of the DWS in the Eastern Cape is tasked with working with the implementing agent, that is Amatola Water, and the Alfred Nzo DM, the EC Office of the Premier, the office of the MEC for COGTA, as well as the community to ensure that as the roll out of the intervention continues, it actually reaches the most vulnerable communities as identified by the municipality.
The localities of Bizana and Ntabankulu are not being ignored, as much as the intervention might be slow. The installation of the water tanks did not take off as would have been envisaged and preferred due to the lockdown taking its toll on some of the service providers who became cash strapped.
Tankering has also not been optimal as the tanks that were allocated were too few to advance services to the vast area they were required to assist.
Once the procurement glitches at Amatola Water are overcome services will be rendered much better.
The need for security of supply to all, especially the most vulnerable communities cannot be compromised, thus the directive of Minister Sisulu has to be brought to life.
As the intervention continues to roll out, we ask for patience from those that have not yet been reached. All efforts are brought to bear upon the intervention. It is true that the desired results and effects have not yet been felt in all communities but the DWS is intent on completely fulfilling its mission.
Furthermore, Minister Sisulu has appealed to community members to take responsibility for the infrastructure in their communities and ensure that it is safe from any form of vandalism or theft. The infrastructure is provided for the good of all in the communities.
Enquiries:
Mr Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 082 874 2942
