Address by Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, Minister of Water and Sanitation, during the handing over of mobile reservoirs to address the challenges in Tubatse local Municipality
"Water is life, Sanitation is dignity"
Introduction
We are a water scares country with 40% less than the annual world average rainfall, our country is the 30th driest country internationally. Our average annual rainfall is less, compared to the world’s average.
Taking the above situation into consideration, we cannot sit back and lament, but have to think hard as to how we can use innovative ways to mitigate the challenges at hand.
Today’s event is a true reflection of our attempt at using alternative technological means to mitigate for the drought challenges that,Limpopo in general, and Sekhukhune District, in particular, is experiencing.
The recent drought, which has severely affected many parts of the country, including Limpopo Province, has made the water challenges more acute.
We have come here as part of a responsive government to earnestly address the challenges of our people to the best our ability and demonstrate co-operation and a meeting of the minds towards the ideal of this government of the people to really and truly better the lives of South Africans through the delivery of these very essential services we have been mandated to deliver.
As a Department we are guided by the National Development Plan, ANC manifesto and the second National Water Resource Strategy in our work. Indeed we have resolved that we will apply a seamless integrated water approach, something that has to become the norm in the water sector.
Essentially, this is a co-ordinated approach that is inter-dependent and inter-related to other Departments at National level, provincial and local government as well as the private sector, civil society, and to the people.
In addition, this approach will ensure that we provide a sustainable and holistic approach across the value chain of water supply, from source to tap and from tap back to source.
Background information on Limpopo
Limpopo Province is a drought prone semi-arid to arid region (arid zones typically receive less than 400 mm of rainfall annually, while semi-arid and dry sub-humid zones receive about 400-600 mm and more than 600 mm respectively).
Relief in a form of rainwater harvesting tanks will serve to harvest rainwater during rain.
Based on information supplied by the District Municipalities for drought intervention a total number of 850 272 households in Limpopo are affected by the drought.
Background information on Sekhukhune sevices level
The District depends largely on groundwater for the domestic water supply merely in rural areas and has two strategic dams (Flag Boshielo and Dehoop Dam). Flag Boshielo with a capacity of 171 900 000 m³ is situated in Ephraim .Mogale Municipality and De Hoop Dam with the capacity of 347 000 000 m³ is situated in Eliase Motsoaledi Local, De Hoop Dam is to supply water to all the Local municipalities within Sekhukhune District Municipality and other municipalities (Mogalakwena, Aganang, Lepelle Nkumpi and Polokwane LM. Currently Flag Boshielo dam is supplying all villages within Ephriam Mogale and Makhuduthamaga Local Municipalitie however the water demand cannot be met until the upgrading of the Flag Boshielo Water Treatment Package Plant is completed.
The Sekhukhune DM has prepared a Water Services Development Plan (WSDP) that was adopted in 2005 and is updated annually. The WSDP is currently being implemented and is reviewed annually. The District has also finalized its section 78 process of which is presently implementing the outcomes of that exercise. The establishment of Water Service Department and the transfer of DWS staff to the District have been completed.
The District has developed a Community Water Supplies Master Plan. This enables the District and its implementing agents to achieve its WSDP objectives in relation to effective prioritisation and execution of water services projects.
At least 25% of the households in Sekhukhune DM do not have access to piped water which represents 65 530 households. 75% of the households have access to piped water in the yard or through communal tap which represents 198 272 households. The majority of households who do not have access to piped water are found in Elias Motsoaledi, Greater Tubatse and Makhuduthamaga LMs.
The Sekhukhune DM has five Regional Water Schemes (RWS) that receive treated water through the 18 Water Treatment Works (WTW) with a total design of 49.11 Ml/d and currently producing 34.8 Ml/d. 11 out of 18 WTWs are operational and in addition has Mahlakwena Package Plant, Tsakani Package Plant and Kutullo Package Plant.
7 WTW are not functional main reason being: mechanical failure of pumps that are caused by depletion of source or silting dams.
There are planned interventions to deal with the issues as raised. e.g. Refurbishment of Mooihoek Water Treatment Works, and the commissioning Ga-Malekane Water Treatment Works.
The surface bulk water supply isaugmented with 1289 boreholes and 685 boreholes are operational and 604 boreholes are not operational due to theft and vandalism, depletion of the groundwater aquifer, electrical and mechanical problems.
Water services status in ward 13 and 30
Greater Tubatse Local Municipality: - Census 2011, the Local Municipality consists of 31 wards, with the total population of 335,676 people (76,135 Households)
Praktiseer Township is divided into two wards: ward 13 and ward 30.
Ward 13 population is estimated at ±16000 and consist of the following sections: Tubatse A, Airport, Extension 1, Extension 2, 3, 4, 5,8,9,10,11 and 15 (Segorong), Skiering section, and Danger Section.
Sources of supply in ward 13 (Thirteen) are 3 (three) reservoirs connected to the bulk pipeline which reticulates water to the sections from the Praktiseer water treatment works.
There are two boreholes that are operational to augment the water treatment works. Out of the 12 sections 3 (Extension 4, 5 and 8) do not have reliable water supply. There are sections receiving water at yard connections while other sections receive water at RDP standard
Ward 30 (thirty) consists of Tswelopele Park, Ramaube, Dark City, Mountain View and Vodaville. There are villages falling under ward 30, namely Mabocha village under two traditional leadership. (Kgoshi Riba and Kgoshi Makofane). Villages falling under Kgoshi Riba are Mapareng, Magabe Park, Malaeneng and Thabakhuloane.
Ward 30 (thirty) is comprised of 11090 households and is supplied by 1 (one) reservoir and the other one is under construction. The five sections Tswelopele Park, Ramaube, Dark City, Mountain View and Vodaville have yard connections, which have since been removed because they were illegally connected.
All the sections under Mabocha are getting water from street taps. Presently the supply has been interrupted since Lekgwareng community have forcefully withdrawn keys from the pump operator due to conflicts within the community regarding water rationing.
Sanitation in Praktiseer
There are oxidation ponds, which were refurbished during 2014/15 financial year. The oxidation ponds mainly cater for Tubatse A section with yard connections. However the oxidation ponds are still experiencing mechanical and electrical challenges.
Challenges on Water and Sanitation faced by the Sekhukhune District Municipality
- Aged infrastructure, unauthorised connections and lack of water conservation and demand management.
- Illegal connections on the water supply.
- Vandalism and theft of water supply infrastructure;
- Operations and maintenance of water supply schemes hence poor performance of WTW and WWTW.
- Off-take water supply agreements between the Lebalelo Water User Association and Sekhukhune DM;
- Where the source is relatively adequate the challenge is existing Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) policy which provides only for RDP standard and should the Municipality requires services above RDP standard the policy requires the Municipality to co-fund.
- Substantial Sanitation backlog at Sekhukhune DM;
- Shortage of skilled personnel that results on the poor maintenance of existing infrastructure.
Interventions to address challenges
Short to Medium Term
MWIG project is currently addressing ground water development around Tubatse area.
Long Term
The Department is in the process to develop Bulk Distribution System (2D: ORWRDP) and the related reservoirs to supply Burgersfort and the surrounding villages inclusive of Praktiseer which the source is Mooihoek 10ML/d water treatment work.
Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) is currently operating major water and waste water treatment works in Sekhukhune DM on short term basis and requires long term agreement for LNW to invest on the infrastructure.
Conclusion
In handing over the reservoir we shall have made a dent on the water scarcity challenges that the people in the area are faced with and demonstrated that we are a caring government of the people.
We call upon the community to adhere to their respective Water Service Authorities (WSA) water restrictions as they are meant to save and conserve water for future generation.
We are well aware that water is a critical part of social and economic development to alleviate poverty, which is why the Department is working together with the Provincial and local Government to establish water and sanitation forums.
We will spare no breath, nor effort, at ensuring that the water and sanitation forums are established to ensure full participation of our people on all issues related to water and sanitation.
Through my Department we are going to keep such platforms open to allow representatives of community structures and the Traditional Councils to give us feedback on water and sanitation services rendered to them.
Dankie Ngiyabonga.
