MEC desires to deliver access to basic services
On June 5, the MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Ms Refilwe Mtshweni visited several water projects in the local municipalities.
STEENBOK – On June 5, the MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Ms Refilwe Mtshweni visited several water projects in the local municipalities.
This came a day after angry residents from Mangweni barricaded the roads with stone heaps and burning tyres, demanding water.
The visits formed part of her oversight role as the political head of the department, and the desire to ensure that communities had access to basic services such as water in line with government’s commitment.
Accompanied by the executive mayor of Nkomazi, Cllr Thulisile Khoza and other municipal officials, Mtshweni visited the Mangweni, Steenbok and Block C villages.
Like in many areas, the supply of potable water is hampered by illegal connections, misuse and leakages. The MEC explained how illegal water-pipe connections affected the supply in Mangweni.
“Water for the community is abstracted from the Nkomazi River and 25 megalitres are purified at Tonga Water Treatment Plant, before being distributed to a local reservoir and to a tank. Of the 80 per cent reticulated water, only 30 per cent is supplied to the community due to illegal connections,” she said.
Cogta and the municipality are in the process of building a three-megalitres ground reservoir in Mangweni, as an intervention for improved supply.
Mtshweni was unhappy when she arrived on site and found that the project had not yet broken ground, besides her office being informed that it was nearing completion.
“This is unacceptable, we can not have people striking over services when government has already appointed people to resolve the issue. We want this job done now,” she said addressing contractors on site.
In response to Mtshweni’s demand, they said they would be done in five weeks’ time.
A separate bulk line is being installed to transport water from the reservoir to affected communities. In Steenbok, the construction of a two-megalitres elevated tank was underway.
She said water was a constitutional right and the government was working hard to meet the demands. “We are a pillar of support for municipalities to provide water. We are working hard to accelerate all projects so that our people can have water,” she said.
She furthermore expressed concern about illegal connections, leakages and misuse of water which undermined government’s efforts to provide to all communities. She appealed to them to be patient with such challenges.
