Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu yesterday met with community leaders of Emfuleni Local Municipality to address their concerns following a visit to the Vaal River Intervention Project. Minister Sisulu and the attendees received an update on the progress made by the Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT) since its deployment.
Accompanied by officials of the municipality, senior officials of the Department and ERWAT, Minister Sisulu led a meeting which comprised of environmental organisation, Save the Vaal Environment and other members of the community.
“Having been here last week and heard concerns raised by the community, I have received a clearer understanding of the challenges you are faced with and I will be convening solutions,” she said.
Minister Sisulu said since her visit to the Project last week, she has since given a directive to the Department to prepare a Cabinet Memo to seek Cabinet permission and approval for the Department to intervene and assist the municipality to manage water services infrastructure.
“What this means, is that because of the challenges of capacity within the municipality, the Department of Water and Sanitation will be responsible for the management of water within the municipality and assist the municipality to provide the necessary capacity,” she said.
In addition, Rand Water and ERWAT as the two implementing agents of the Project, will now report directly to Minister Sisulu on their continued intervention in the Vaal.
Rand Water is responsible for upgrading of three wastewater treatment plants in order to add more capacity, while ERWAT is responsible for the network and for ensuring functional waste water works and pumping
Some of the issues raised by the community were the previous promises of training and work opportunities for the communities.
“On this, I will be taking the promise made to you by the former Minister Gugile Nkwinti as part of my Cabinet Memo to seek Cabinet approval for the intervention and ask for budgetary support from National Treasury,” Minister Sisulu said.
“In the meantime however, my Department will start engaging with the community on the details of how the community can work together with Save the Vaal Environment leadership to clean the Vaal, the rivers and the streams around this area”, she added.
Minister Sisulu assured the meeting that her interventions in this regard are already being implemented by DWS, including the fast-tracking of the necessary water use licence to facilitate the conversion of waste for agricultural purposes.
She expressed sincere appreciation to members of the community for the support given to the Department and ERWAT in cleaning up of the Vaal River.
Minister Sisulu agreed to the suggestion that there needs to be continuous sharing of information, education and awareness efforts within communities, civil society to continue its watchdog efforts to ensure accountability, tracking and ensuring accountability of polluters to safe guard the environment and resource, as well as to share the finalised communication strategy with interested parties.
The meeting also resolved that there will no longer be a pursuit of government through the courts in order to allow space for the Intervention to take root, and for the stakeholders to adequately set up credible working partnerships.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
