The Department of Water and Sanitation has made funding available through the Accelerated Community Infrastructure Programme (ACIP) to ensure that the waste water treatment works in Emakhazeni Local Municipality are restored to optimal functionality and comply with the set standards. The refurbishment projects are also meant to prevent the pollution of water resources by non-compliant effluent.
The contractors appointed to refurbish waste water treatment works in Waterval Boven and Machadodorp in Emakhazeni Local Municipality were officially handed over to the communities by the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Executive Council of Emakhazeni led by the Executive Mayor, Councilor XS Ngwenya in sod turning ceremonies on 14 April 2016. The contractor for the Belfast waste water treatment works will be handed over on 18 April 2016.
The Department of Water and Sanitation exercises water oversight responsibilities as derived from legislative provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) and Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997). In discharging its oversight function the department was alerted of waste water management challenges in the towns of Belfast, Waterval Boven and Machadodorp located within the Emakhazeni Local Municipality under the Nkangala District Municipality. The nature of the challenges poses a risk to the integrity of the environment and the local water resources both to residents of the said towns and downstream water users.
The communities welcomed the projects and expressed excitement towards the projects as they will bring infrastructure development and job opportunities to the community members. The communities are also happy that the projects will bring an end to their waste water management challenges and the threat and fear of waterborne diseases.
Mr Doctor Makhubele, representing the Department of Water and Sanitation, pledged the department’s support to the municipality to ensure that the waste water treatment plants are compliant. This is necessary as it has been seen that the entire municipality was experiencing challenges in terms of waste water management. He also encouraged the community to conserve water, especially as we approach winter and the country is facing severe drought. He pleaded with the community to safeguard the infrastructure and prevent vandalism to ensure that the infrastructure serves the current and future generations.
In his address, the Executive Mayor thanked the department for coming to the municipality’s rescue in terms of funding the project; this as the issue of infrastructure is a serious challenge in the municipality. He stated that the municipality and the department are “married” to ensure that all the municipality’s water and sanitation problems are addressed. He stressed that this is a marriage of development.
Executive Mayor Ngwenya also reiterated the call and encouraged the communities to take care of the infrastructure and prevent vandalism of the infrastructure for the benefit of current and future generations. He also encouraged the communities to pay for services to ensure that the municipality is able to maintain the infrastructure and fund development.
The refurbishment and proper maintenance of the waste water treatment works will ensure that the water resources are protected as there will be no sewer spillages into the rivers and streams and also prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2492
For further enquiries:
Themba Khoza
Cell: 082 600 5666
