MEC's reponse to legislature questions about water infrastructure challenges in Mpumalanga
31 August 2012
The MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Mr Madala Masuku has responded to a legislature question on water infrastructure challenges in the province. He indicated that the Department is working closely with the Department of Water Affairs to address the water infrastructure backlogs in the province. These challenges are mainly historical and are a result of poor planning in the past that did not accommodate prospects of growth in our communities. Water infrastructure in towns, townships, white farm areas and homelands were designed differently with urban areas having good infrastructure while black townships had poor infrastructure.
The aging of old apartheid infrastructure cannot provide service to the growing formal and informal settlements that have emerged after the dawn of democracy. Some municipalities have challenges regarding operations, maintenance and capacity of their Water Treatment Plants. Limited bulk storage resources also contribute to these challenges. Another major challenge is the vandalism and theft of transformers from pump stations in other parts of the province.
Addressing these challenges remains the priority of government. Premier David Mabuza and MEC Madala Masuku have visited areas that are hard-hit by these challenges. CoGTA working together with the Department of Water Affairs and the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) are hard at work to address these challenges. The Department of Water Affairs has identified a number of projects that have been included in municipalities Integrated Development Plans (IDP) for 2012/13. These projects are intended for the following municipalities Albert Luthuli, Msukaligwa, Dipaleseng, Lekwa, Mkhondo, Emalahleni, Victor Khanye, Govan Mbeki, Bushbuckridge, Nkomazi, Mbombela, Thaba Chweu and Thembisile Hani.
Through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) municipalities will also implement projects to eradicate water backlogs in the 2012/2013 financial year. These municipalities are Bushbuckridge, Thaba Chweu, Chief Albert Luthuli, Msukaligwa, Dr JS Moroka, Emakhazeni, Thembisile Hani and Mkhondo. These Municipalities will utilise 70% of the total MIG allocation for water provision.
In conclusion the MEC indicated that these interventions should be completed in 2013. As an interim measure in areas where there is an acute water shortage, water tankers are being utilised to alleviate the challenges.
Contact person:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell:
082 413 3931
Issued by Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
