The Cuban contingent in the water and sanitation space continues to be productive
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, welcomed Cuban water experts to the country on the 16 February this year to share their expertise with their counterparts in the South African water and sanitation sector.
Their arrival followed a bilateral agreement between South Africa and Cuba in 2014 on co-operation in the fields of water resources management and water supply.
Among the recruited Cuban specialists are:
- Civil engineers
- Electrical engineers
- Mechanical engineers
- Irrigation and drainage specialists
- Hydraulic engineers
The specialists are deployed as per below:
In the Northern Cape, the one specialist whose responsibilities include: Project Manager at the Homevale Wastewater Treatment Works (Sol Plaatjie Local Municipality), as well as the Kuruman Bulk Water scheme (Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality), and as a member of the DWS Regional Bulk infrastructure Grant (RBIG) project adjudication committee responsible for looking into and ensuring processes around business plans, feasibility studies and implementation ready studies’ assessments, and recommendation for approval.
Another specialist is placed at the Vanderkloof Wastewater Treatment Works (Renosterberg LM) and Strydenburg Bulk Water Scheme (Thembelihle LM), as a Project Manager, as well as an RBIG project adjudication committee member.
In the Western Cape, the specialist works at the Stellenbosch WWTW, Citrusdal WWTW, Paarl Bulk Sewer, Worcester BWS, Grabouw WWTW, Oudtshoorn BWS, and Ladismith WWTW in project management and quality control.
In Limpopo, the appointment is in the areas of technical specialist, engineering support, planning and designs, construction monitoring and technical training. The placement is at Mogalakwena BWS, Waterberg DM, Mametja/Sekororo RWS, Mopani DM, Giyani WS, Mopani DM, Mooihoek/Tubatse BWS, Nandoni to Nsami BWS, Sekhukhune DM, Moutse BWS, Sinthumule/Kutama BWS, and Vhembe DM.
In the Eastern Cape, the placement is in the area of technical guidance and technical support to the DWS regional office. This includes the Sanitation Bucket Eradication Programme 2015/16, Support Resource Poor Farmers, and assessment of water supply infrastructure.
In the North West, the one placement is of a mechanical engineer at the Hartbeespoort Area Office. Two others have responsibilities towards verification of groundwater and provision of geohydrological specialist support to Moses Kotane LM, Moretele LM, Lekwa Teemane LM, Kgetleng Rivier LM, Setlagole Bulk Groundwater Supply (BGWS), Kraaipan Hydro-Census, regional geohydrological potential assessments, groundwater quality sampling (NMMDM), Ramotshere Moiloa LM, Ditsobotla LM, Mamusa LM, Kagisano Molopo villages, Taung/Naledi LM, Maquassi Hills LM.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the Cuban colleague will provide engineer technical support towards drought relief in the province. He will also assist with the review of the water and sanitation plans for the Municipal Infrastructure Grants (MIG), municipal Water Infrastructure Grant (MWIG), Accelerated Community Infrastructure Projects (ACIP), and Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG).
In the Free State regional office there are two specialists deployed.
The one provides support to project managers responsible for: Maluti-a-Phofung BWSS Phase 2, Setsoto BWS, Dihlabeng BWS Phase 2, Nketoana Raw WS Augmentation, Phumelela BWS, as well as the Bulk Water Supply in Ladybrand.
The second also provides support to project managers responsible for: Masilonyana BWS, Nala Bulk Sewer, and Tswelopele BWS.
Those specialists placed within the National Water Resource Infrastrure branch are deployed thus:
At the Groblersdal Area Office (Northern Operations), the specialist is working in the area of design and drawing. This work is towards the resealing of the access road to the office, design of paving of streets, design of the store and office for the purification works, as well as the design of the rebuilding of 8km of the Loskop Left Bank Main Canal.
In Mpumalanga/Usutu River (Central Operations), the specialist is responsible for the electrical switchgear upgrade at the Morgensond Pump Station 1, the electrical switchgear upgrade at the Geelhoutboom Pump Station 1, development of the electrical maintenance manual, electrical protection systems on the Usutu River GWS electrical installations, electrical maintenance and electrical maintenance projects planned for 2015/16.
In Gauteng (Central Operations), the specialist placed here is the project co-coordinator and is responsible for quality engineers. The work involved includes resource management plans for Vygeboom, Woodstock, Heyshope and Nooitgedacht Dams, release of water from the Sterkfontein to the Vaal Dam, Occupational Health and Safety, as well as the installation of meters’ project.
In the Western Cape (Southern Operations), in the area of Barnhoek River Crossing, the specialist is tasked with the upgrade of the crossing, including the design and drawing.
At the Kogelberg Dam, the same specialist must ensure the enlargement of the office and this entails design, drawing of plans, listing requisite materials, specifications and tender documents.
At the Eastern Cape (Southern Operations), the specialist is the project engineer on the work on the Gamtoos GWS water balance model, Elandsdrift Canal water balance model, Amatola GWS water balance model, Lower Sundays GWS water balance model, De Mist Kraal Canal water balance model, Lower Fish River GWS water balance model.
Another specialist is the project engineer on the Darlington Dam Outlet Works refurbishment, as well as the Tsojana Dam Outlet pipes.
At the Tzaneen Area Office (Northern Operations), the deployee is involved in a number of operations. Firstly as Engineer Specialist: Responsible for Quality Control of executed Works: rehabilitation of the Nzhelele Canal in the Tshipise GWS, provide technical support during the planning stage for the rehabilitation of the Middle Letaba Canal and the Mapuve Balancing Dam. As the Dam Safety Engineer, he is responsible for quarterly and annual dam safety assessments at Ndwandeni, Luphephe, Cross, Cape Thorne, Mutshedzi and Seshego Dams.
He will furthermore provide technical support during the planning stage for the construction of the 13 houses in the Tzaneen Dam, as well as for the construction of the single quarters at the Tshipise GWS.
The DWS is confident that the colleagues from Cuba have been a boon to the sector and the country will be richer for their contribution.
Enquiries:
Mr Sputnik Ratau
Tel: 012 336 6813
Cell: 082 874 2942
