Deputy minister of water and sanitation addresses Bushbuckridge’s water issues
Deputy minister David Mahlobo tasked a technical team with developing a detailed action plan to address the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality's water challenges.
The deputy minister of water and sanitation, David Mahlobo, recently addressed the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality’s (BLM) water challenges and the ongoing plans to ensure a reliable water supply.
On December 23, he held a virtual meeting with key stakeholders, such as the BLM’s executive mayor, Cllr Lydia Moroane, Ehlanzeni District Municipality’s executive mayor, Cllr Terra Shabangu, some representatives of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (IUCMA) and other stakeholders.
According to Mahlobo, the main focus was addressing the pressing water supply challenges in Violet Bank and Shatale, where community members raised concerns about irregular water supply caused by pressure and valve operation issues. Additionally, challenges related to a dedicated line and reservoir for Violet Bank were highlighted as critical areas requiring intervention to improve water provision.
During the meeting, the BLM provided a detailed briefing on the measures already taken to address these issues following a community engagement gathering that was held on December 4.
“To resolve the intermittent water supply challenges, the attendees agreed on the deployment of a dedicated network operator, which will manage the reservoir and network systems to ensure consistent water delivery. The second resolution is to upgrade Shatale Water Treatment, which will be prioritised to serve Shatale and surrounding areas. Thirdly, a water reticulation will be constructed at Majembani to connect a dedicated water line as requested by the community to improve supply,” Mahlobo said.
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The BLM committed itself to ongoing engagement with the community throughout the implementation of these resolutions and pledged to provide regular updates on progress. Community co-operation and patience were requested to allow for the effective implementation of these measures.
Meanwhile, Mahlobo emphasised that addressing the water challenges in Bushbuckridge is a top priority, and provided additional guidance to ensure sustainable solutions.
The BLM was advised to confirm raw water availability through the IUCMA and to explore the additional allocations from Inyaka Dam.
Mahlobo said: “The municipality should enhance water conservation and demand management programmes. It should conduct a comprehensive assessment of the water network systems, from bulk infrastructure to household connections, to identify areas for optimisation and to build capacity through increased human resources, the provision of personal protective equipment and to maintain key repair stock materials to improve response times.”
He further advised the BLM to strengthen community engagement on water usage, address broader issues affecting residents and to refurbish existing boreholes and install new ones in areas lacking water supply or reticulation networks.
Mahlobo tasked the technical team with developing a detailed action plan to address water challenges.
“Ensuring a reliable water supply is not just a necessity, but a fundamental right for our communities. The Department of Water and Sanitation, alongside other stakeholders, remains steadfast in its commitment to providing the necessary support and oversight to the BLM,” Mahlobo concluded.
