The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation remains highly concerned about the continuing water and sanitation challenges at Madibeng Local Municipality, North West. The challenges witnessed during a visit by the Committee this week, are symptomatic of the challenges across the country.
While these challenges need urgent action, the Committee noted the negative impact caused by the high rates of vandalism and theft to water infrastructure that is adding to the already critical challenges. The continuing vandalism and theft of valves, copper and transformers is a direct contributor to water shortages in many instances and has a negative effect on the financial resources of the municipality as budgeted money is diverted towards the replacement of these stolen parts. The Committee calls on all stakeholders including the community, justice and crime prevention cluster and businesspeople, to work together to solve the problem.
Within Madibeng, the Committee noted and appreciated various infrastructure projects underway such as the R63.7 million Wastewater Infrastructure Refurbishment Project, as well as refurbishment of water supply pumps at various areas, but there remain a few challenges that need urgent action. The Committee is of the view that while these infrastructure projects are necessary and welcome as they will assist in solving problems in the municipality, maintenance of the infrastructure remains a challenge.
“Maintenance of the infrastructure will prolong the lifespan of water supply infrastructure and there is an urgent need for a collaborative effort by all government departments from national to local level to remedy this situation,” said Mlungisi Johnson, the Chairperson of the Committee.
Furthermore, the Committee has noted progress in terms of water services and that the matter has been identified as number one priority on the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan. The Committee urges the provincial and national departments of water and sanitation to ramp up their interventions within this municipality and many other municipalities that have inadequate infrastructure to supply our people with quality water.
To this end, the Committee has noted measures in place to deal with this issue in Madibeng, including, among others, the upgrading of infrastructure at the Rietfontein Sewage plant. “We hope that the three months deadline set to complete the upgrades will be met and the Committee will make follow-up on the issue in efforts to ensure that the spillages and lack of capacity at the plant is resolved,” Johnson said.
While the Blue Drop score for the municipality has improved there needs to be much work in ensuring that the quality of water provided to the people of this area improves. The Committee is further worried by information that up to 75 percent of the municipality’s water is unaccounted for due to leakages and unmetered households, while the average in the country is around 35 percent.
The Committee will strengthen its oversight role not only on this municipality but with municipalities across the country to ensure that similar challenges are addressed and that the people of this great country receive quality services.
For media enquiries and interviews with the Chairperson please contact:
Malatswa Evans Molepo, Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403-8438
Cell: 073 297 1914
Email: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
