Water and Sanitation on drought relief intervention projects in Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality

Milestones and progress of the drought relief intervention projects in Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality

Sedibeng Water was commissioned by the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation in January 2020 to implement the Drought Relief Intervention Project at the Maluti-a- Phofung Local Municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, Free State Province.

The Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality was plagued by a protracted drought since 2015, leading up to the highly publicised protests that led to the proclamation of the Drought Relief Intervention Project by Minister Lindiwe Sisulu of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation. The South African Treasury provided an investment of R220m towards the Drought Relief Intervention Project. The Minister appointed Sedibeng Water as an implementation agency to provide sustainable access to water to the Maluti-a-Phofung community.

Successful implementation of the Water Emergency (INTERIM) solution

In order to deal with the immediate crisis of water shortage, the priority for Sedibeng Water was to focus on providing a water emergency solution to supply potable water for the distressed community. The distress was due to the impact of the drought that has plagued Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality since 2015.

As a result, two thousand water tanks were immediately procured in February from Osher Fuels in Pretoria. From March 2020 – and in view of the looming threat of the COVID-19 pandemic - an accelerated distribution of water tanks was commissioned and successfully implemented by Sedibeng Water to ensure that residents had access to water.

Eight-hundred and sixteen (816) of the 5,000 litres and four-hundred and eighty-six (486) of the 10,000 litres communal water tanks were distributed and equipped with taps during the period 1 March to 30 June 2020, constituting a 82% and 42% success rate on the distribution of the 5000L and 10000L water tanks, respectively.

Additionally, the Department of Water and Sanitation in the Free State and Sedibeng Water successfully delivered water tanks provided by Rand Water for potable water to schools as part of the national School Readiness Programme funded by the Department of Basic Education. UNICEF also contributed the Eazi-Wash Hand Wash Communal Tanks for taxi ranks and shopping malls in QwaQwa.

A total of twenty-five (25) water tankers were procured by Sedibeng Water and MAP Water to ensure that the water tanks were regularly filled with water through a rotational schedule administered by MAP Water. The water tankers abstracted fresh and quality assured water from the Comet and Bluegumbosch water abstraction points in QwaQwa.

Investment in Sustainable Water Infrastructure Development Projects

Meanwhile Sedibeng Water initiated and implemented several sustainable Water Infrastructure Development Projects as part of the Drought Relief Intervention Project. When completed, these water infrastructure development projects will provide sustainable access to quality water for Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality.

The recent completion of the Northern Region Bulk Water Storage Reservoirs on 30 June 2020, marks a major milestone in the investment towards the improvement of bulk water supply capacity for the Maluti-a-Phofung community. The Northern Region Bulk Water Storage Reservoirs will be able to alleviate shortage of water supply to the various communities, especially during times when there is scarcity of water through drought or other natural disasters.

As part of its water supply mix strategy, Sedibeng Water commissioned the Equipping of Boreholes for the Harvesting of Groundwater Resources for the various rural communities in QwaQwa. The designated villages earmarked for the Boreholes Project include Lejwaneng, Thibela, Makgemeng, Qoqolosing, Mantsubise and Monontsha villages.

Two contractors, viz. Megnavolt Trading cc and Mshandukani Holdings were appointed to construct and equip five (5) boreholes each. The borehole equipping project was initiated in January 2020 and is currently at a progress of 65% with an expected completion date of 30 July 2020.

The Uniqwa Reversal Pipeline Increase and the Comet to Ha-Rankopane Pipeline Construction Projects were conceptualized to provide water supply connectivity to designated reservoirs with bulk water storage. The purpose of the Uniqwa Reversal Pipeline is to increase the size of the pipeline from 160mm to 400mm diameter (+-3km) in QwaQwa. In terms of project progress the Uniqwa Reversal project is standing at 65% progress and the project is earmarked for completion by end of August 2020. The Comet to Ha-Rankopane Pipeline project has reached the progress milestone of 85% and is due for completion by end of July 2020.

During January 2020 Sedibeng Water commissioned the Upgrading of the Fika Patso Water and Sterkfontein Treatment Plants to increase the capacity of the treatment plant to 20 mega litres per day. The progress for Fika Patso currently stands of 70% with an expected completion date of 30 August 2020. While the Sterkfontein Project currently stands at 25% of progress and is due for completion in October 2021. This work will increase security of water supply.

Since its appointment as an implementing agent, Sedibeng Water – in collaboration with the Free State Department of Water and Sanitation and MAP Water – has positively and successfully responded to its mandate towards the improvement of water access for the Maluti-a-Phofung community. Clearly, there is still more to be done to improve the current situation to absolute normalcy; but the investment of the R220 million funding has been effective in more ways than not for the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality to turn around the water challenges in the community.

For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 082 874 2942

More on

Share this page

Similar categories to explore