NELSON Mandela Bay residents can expect the first drop of water to come out of the much anticipated Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works phase three facility in April as the multimillion rand project is at 99% completion amid the metro’s ongoing drought crisis.
This was announced by South African Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, during his two-day visit to Nelson Mandela Bay late last week.
Mchunu met Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Eugene Johnson, together with other leaders from the provincial government, Buffalo City Metro, Amatola Water Board and Sarah Baartman District Municipality, to discuss the water challenges currently faced by the Eastern Cape.
Mchunu said that he was happy with the progress made with the project, which had experienced some challenges in the past.
“We know that we are at 99% now in terms of finishing this Nooitgedacht project. We are in a very exciting stage in that we are right at the end. We are told by the construction managers here that the first water from this project will flow before the end of the month or April 1, but the whole project is finishing in July and will be handed over.
“Our message to the people of Gqeberha and surrounding areas, including the Sarah Baartman District, is that we are hard at work looking at their security needs from a water point of view,” he said.
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