The MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Madala Masuku, accompanied by the acting Executive Mayor of Gert Sibande District Councillor gnes Mnisi, Executive Mayor of Albert Luthuli Councillor Busisiwe Shiba, the technical team from the Departments of Water Affairs and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and both the District and Local Municipality have visited Carolina to assess the water problems in the area.
The water problems have resulted in community protests in area. MEC Masuku and the delegation visited the Carolina treatment plant which supplies water to Carolina, Car Park, Silobela and surrounding farm areas. They also visited the wetlands through which the water passes enroute to the treatment plant.
Reports indicate that the mines in the vicinity of Carolina are passing manganese into the water flowing through the wetlands thus contaminating the water flowing into the water plant. In cleaning the manganese from the water there is a lot of pressure being put on the water plant thus affecting its ability to function optimally. The Department of Water Affairs will look into the issues of compliance by the mines in terms of their licence agreement. Environmental officers from the District will also visit the mines to check issues of compliance.
To reduce the high levels of manganese in the water, the municipality is currently dosing lime at the water plant. A package plant will also be added to the water plant to clean the water, but this will not increase the capacity of the water plant, it will only clean the water.
In the next two weeks, extensive work will be done in Carolina to improve the water quality so that it is restored to safe drinking and cooking quality. Some of the work will also include cleaning the water plant and pipes and as a result communities can expect the water quality and supply to be poor. During these two weeks, water will continue to be provided through water tankers and jojo tanks. The municipality has committed to making sure that at all times the water tankers will at least be 50% full if not more.
During the visit MEC Masuku condemned the recent incidences of unwarranted violence, malicious destruction of property, disrespect of the rule of law and the violation of the rights of law abiding citizens by certain residents in the province that has accompanied service delivery protests.
MEC Masuku has stated that this administration is willing to work with all communities to resolve any problems. “We remain committed to solving all problems and will be staying in these communities where there are problems until their concerns are addressed” said Masuku.
He said that it was very disturbing that communities request government to provide them with services and infrastructure and then they again destroy them. “Government has limited resources that need to be spread throughout all communities. If government has provided buildings and equipment to service an area, and then it is destroyed this is taking the community backwards. It is important for communities to defend public property” said Masuku.
He further added that government is aware of the water problems faced by some communities in the province. “Water provision is a priority of this administration. We are working together with municipalities to make sure that we address these problems. We must make sure that by 2014, all communities have access to clean water” said Masuku.
In the long term the provincial government and Department of Water Affairs supported by Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) and Bushbuckridge Water Board will conduct and in-depth analysis of the problem in Carolina to determine the intervention needed.
Contact person:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 082 413 3931
