12 August 2014
The Minister of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, heads north to
Limpopo to engage water sector stakeholders including communities in the area of
Giyani in Limpopo Province. Minister Mokonyane will have a détente to find
lasting water delivery solutions in the area.
The meeting will be on Thursday, 14 August 2014. The Minister will be engaging
DWS officials and the community of Mopani in Giyani Local Municipality who have
been plagued by water scarcity for some time. This municipality has experienced
social protests over time with a particular emphasis on water services. The
engagement with stakeholders on the day is primarily aimed at ensuring a
fast-tracked process that will bring this precious resource to the community by
September 2014.
The Limpopo Provincial Office of the Department is in discussions with the
Executive Mayor, the Municipal Manager, the Municipality’s Technical Director
and Water Services’ Manager, the key drivers of any project that would see life
return to normal in the district.
Minister Mokonyane’s visit will bring in the necessary support, not just of the
department, but including that of the provincial government to ensure good
quality sustainable services continue beyond her visit.
The resolution to the water supply challenges in the District has been identified
as being through the upgrading of the water treatment works in Giyani. There is
a further need for an emergency pipeline to draw water from the Letaba Dam to
the Giyani Water Treatment Works (LTW) as augmentation. The use of the available
boreholes would be a quick fix, but needs certainty in terms of electrical power
availability and mechanical support.
At the first-ever National Water and Sanitation Summit, delegates, fully
supported by Minister Mokonyane and Deputy Minister Pamela Tshwete agreed that
there was a need to realise solutions through deliberation in areas of: meeting
the service delivery challenges, enabling water and sanitation policy,
developing and implementing water research, technology and innovation choices,
enhancing the state of South Africa’s water resources, understanding and
defining the role of the private sector.
The binding agreement was that DWS, therefore, resolved to chart a pathway toward
national water security and sustainable universal access to water and sanitation
services within the longer-term National Development Plan (NDP) timeframe of
2030.
The meeting in Giyani therefore is an example of following on the ideals and
outcomes of not just Minister’s direction of the department, but also marries
that with the co-operation of all players within the water and sanitation sector
for the good of the country.
Ike Motsapi
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