The Minister of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Ms. Nomvula Mokonyane this morning visited the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The purpose of the visit was that the Minister, together with MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube, would oversee the event to launch the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme.
This critical BWSS is necessary to ensure the supply demands precipitated by the growth of the district identified in the Water and Sanitation Master Plan for iLembe DM. according to the Master Plan, there was the need to supply an additional 55Ml/d of treated water to the coastal and inland areas of KwaDukuza LM and Mandeni LM.
Addressing the public at the event, MEC Dube-Ncube spoke about the fact that following on Human Rights Day yesterday, “it is apt that we now look at the matter of access to water as a human right. Today Minister is her to launch the scheme that will assist towards relieving the impact of the current drought conditions. Now the iLembe Local Municipality and eThekwini will find some relief.
“We are aware too that some in the community even lost jobs due to the closure of the sugar mill. We hope that this Scheme will bring some relief”, the MEC said. MEC Dube-Ncube indicated a massive amount of appreciation for the work of the DWS.
As Minister Mokonyane also made her input she said: “the observation of the Human Rights Commission recently was that the KZN provincial government has worked very well with the local government to look into and deal with the current drought.
“We are here today as the people’s government, the government of the people. We can pride ourselves as a nation that the provision of water is enshrined in our Constitution. We are here today as well to make a demonstration that working together we can mitigate against the effects of drought. We have also come to accept that working together with our water board, Umgeni, we are capable of delivering work like we are launching today, in order to supply not just the urban areas, but as well as those in the rural areas within the area.
“On completion of the Scheme it will reach a total of 750 000 inhabitants. We are also conscious of the fact that around 290 000 people within iLembe are indigent. So we request even those who are indigent to save and re-use our water. Make sure that you use water more than once, so that we can ensure that those that are not serviced do get services.
“We are going to bring forward all plans to bring water from the scheme, show how best to accelerate the project working hand in hand with Umgeni Water. As we continue to bring this infrastructure into place, let us ensure that we do not do illegal connections, steal water or destroy infrastructure”.
Minister Mokonyane also said that we all have a responsibility not to contaminate the resource, administrators must act responsibly and react in time, those who can afford to pay must, whilst all who cannot pay must register accordingly. She also said that the drought has given us an opportunity to look at how best to develop and deliver this precious resource.
The project includes the infrastructure required to abstract and treat water from the UThukela River to supply to secondary bulk and reticulation networks within the iLembe DM. These networks will ultimately supply both developed and un-served areas. Phase 1 of the project is about 95% complete. The estimated total cost of the project to completion is estimated to be R1.32 billion. The last part of the contract is expected to be completed in September 2016.
For more enquiries contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Spokesperson for DWS
Cell: 082 874 2942
Lennox Mabaso
Spokesperson for COGTA KZN
Cell: 082 884 2403
