Matjhabeng will need R522 million to refurbish all of the waste water treatment works in the municipality, including the replacement of 1 500 km of pipeline.
During a visit to Matjhabeng on Thursday (02/06), Senzo Mchunu, minister of Water and Sanitation (DWS), told stakeholders that the department has R150 million available for projects to commence immediately and funds will be sourced to complete the work.
Mchunu said the dire sanitation and water issues in Matjhabeng will be addressed immediately.
He did not mince words at a meeting with Thanduxolo David Khalipha, Matjhabeng executive mayor, and councillors, that was held in the Ferdie Meyer Hall in the city.
He said the Department of Water and Sanitation will fund the refurbishment of the water and sanitation infrastructure.
“But there needs to be accountability, if heads need to roll, they must roll.”
He expressed his dismay at the situation of the Kutlwanong Waste Water Treatment Works.
The plant that was completed in 2017 has since been completely vandalised.
“We cannot keep pumping money into one municipality, while there are many others that have problems”, said Mchunu.
During the meeting he addressed issues of operation and maintenance and hiring the correct people for the job instead of friends and family. He said that issues of security should also be addressed.
“It takes millions of tax payers’ money to establish a treatment plant and then it becomes vandalised within two years or less,” he said.
According to the Green Drop report recently released by the DWS, ten out of the 11 waste water treatment works in Matjhabeng were in a critical state.
“As part of the intervention, a Water Services Committee will be established consisting of representatives of DWS, community representatives, the municipality, business forums and independent engineers,” said Mchunu.
The responsibility of this authority will be to monitor the project and actual work done on the ground.
They will report progress and failures of projects, as well as any other issues directly to the ministry.
The committee was officially introduced to the community at a stakeholders engagement on Thursday.
“Your work starts today and the first meeting should be held tomorrow”, said Mchunu.
He has officially appointed Bloemwater to implement the plan, and he has instructed that credible and qualified consultants must be used and that iron-clad contracts must be in place so that work can be completed quickly and legally.
Khalipha says unfortunately Matjhabeng has borne the brunt of cable theft and vandalism of municipal infrastructure, which has cost the municipality millions every month.
The zama-zama operations are at the forefront of the vandalism.
A joint venture between the municipality, the community and law enforcement agencies is expected to prevent further destruction and will afford protection of municipal assets.
Matjhabeng is in the process of appointing 160 security officers to enable the protection of infrastructure and guarding this much needed investment.
Furthermore, Matjhabeng has pledged its commitment to ensure that regular maintenance will be done on the sewage plants and pump stations to ensure its prolonged life.
