The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has increased the rollout of water tanks to needy communities.
To date they have rolled out 2 211 and are working hard to improve the plight of these communities as the numbers of Covid-19 cases increase daily.
As one of the frontline departments that seek to ease the impact of Covid-19, DWS is geared to continue their efforts to make a more effective contribution in the fight against the spread of the virus.
President Cyril Ramaphosa urged government departments to implement extraordinary measures to ensure that, amongst other interventions, impoverished communities have access to clean water to enable them to wash their hands to ward off the spread of the virus.
To this end, the Department has provided water tanks across Gauteng, benefitting communities in densely-populated areas which include the cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, and the district municipalities of Sedibeng and West Rand.
DWS’s Gauteng Provincial Head, Sibusiso Mthembu, said the department was progressively making an impact on water challenges in overcrowded environments, with communities now receiving the water which is necessary to practice hygiene in a bid to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
Mthembu said the efforts of the department was now reaching every corner of Gauteng where water is needed, adding that that the communities are seeing the concrete intervention the department is making to break the strength of the invisible enemy that is the Covid-19.
“Communities are appreciative of the government‘s response to the outbreak and the intensive measures being put in place in favour of those who would have otherwise been affected significantly by the virus,” Mthembu said.
Mthembu thanked communities for looking after the water tanks where this infrastructure has been installed, saying it is vital to ensure it does not fall prey to wanton acts of vandalism.
“We appeal to communities to carry on looking after these water tanks so the communities can practice proper hygiene. Washing hands with water and soap is one of the sure ways to beat the spread of the virus. The water tanks must continue to serve the needs of the communities long after the virus is gone,” Mthembu concluded.
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