NELSPRUIT – The construction of water and sewerage infrastructure in Mataffin to the tune of R22,3 million, has been implemented and is finally being utilised by some members of the community who have water and sewerage connections.
According to Mr Joseph Ngala, spokesman for Mbombela Municipality, 45 houses have been metered and connected to date. Approximately 600 more are expected to follow, he said.
Lowvelder reported earlier that some members of the community had issues with having to pay the connection fees. Since the community took ownership of the farm from HL Hall & Sons, the existing water infrastructure had deteriorated to such an extent that water had to be supplied by tankers.
In some zones in Mataffin, the connection project started in January. This will continue as people pay and sign agreements with Sembcorp Silulumanzi, the company contracted to provide water to Mbombela.
The cost of the meter, the connection fee and deposit, amounts to R2 700, which Ngala explained could be paid in instalments of at least R45 per month or in full to Sembcorp.
On the whole, the municipality is expecting to have water reticulation in zones one, two and and three and sewer reticulation completed by the end of the month, while a cession agreement needs to be signed for water reticulation to
start in Zone 4.
The construction of the water pipes costs R5,7 million and the sewerage R16,6 million (excluding VAT). Yet, the ability of people to use the sewerage connections is limited. “More than 95 per cent of the houses don’t have water-toilet connections,” Ngala said. Connecting them with such latrines will form part of the proposed project.
