Water and Sanitation welcomes tender probe of Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works upgrades by the SIU
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu has welcomed the authorisation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of maladministration and corruption by City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, with regards to a R295 million tender to refurbish and upgrade the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works.
“We welcome the investigation into the allegations of unlawful and improper conduct related to the tender awarded by the City of Tshwane. We believe that the SIU will do a thorough investigation on maladministration, malpractice, corruption and fraud against any person or entities that were responsible. We also hope that the SIU will recover any financial losses suffered by the State,” said Minister Mchunu.
The Minister said the mismanagement of the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment plant funds will remain etched in many South Africans’ mind as lives were lost due to this alleged improper conduct.
The investigation into the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works will resume following the signing of a Proclamation R 138 of 2023 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which authorises the SIU to probe the tender of Phase 1 upgrades and urgent refurbishment at the wastewater treatment plant.
The Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant receives wastewater from Atteridgeville, the Pretoria central business district, Pretoria North, Soshanguve South and the Rosslyn area.
However, due to problems with operations and maintenance, the treated effluent from the Waste Water Treatment Works is of sub-standard and it continuously discharges into Apies River and the Leeuwkraal Dam, resulting in poor water quality in Leeuwkraal Dam.
The Temba Water Treatment Works (WTW) abstracts water from the Leeuwkraal Dam for purification and supply to the Hammanskraal area. As a result, the water produced at the Temba plant is of poor quality and not potable.
On 20 August 2019, the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) declared that water in Hammanskraal is not fit for human consumption. This followed tests on the water with the help of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) after residents lodged complaints with it.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has on numerous occasions engaged with the City of Tshwane on the poor quality of effluent released from the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works, and it has made the following interventions:
- The western side of Hammanskraal (Refentse), was supplied with water from the water supply pipelines in Soshanguve.
- The Eastern part of Hammanskraal, was supplied with water by Magalies Water.
However, the central part of Temba still experiences problems with the quality of drinking water.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has estimated the cost of rehabilitation and upgrade of the Rooiwal WWTW and upgrade of the Temba WTW to be R6 billion over the next four financial years.
Minister Mchunu has engaged with the City of Tshwane to look for one credible model to resolve the problems of water quality and supply in Hammanskraal.
He has highlighted that the historical problems in that area, particularly with the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works have contributed to the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal.
The Minister has acknowledged the probe of the multimillion tender awarded by the City of Tshwane to refurbish and upgrade the Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works.
Enquiries:
Ms Wisane Mavasa
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: n060 561 8935
