Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has finally reacted to the stalled Vaal sewage pollution project but gave no indication when R341 million promised by her predecessor will be unlocked for resumption of the stalled clean-up process.
But no funding clarity means agencies such as the SA Army and ERWAT cannot continue sewage infrastructure refurbishment even whilst unabated spillages increase to record levels, say experts.
Business reacted sharply to lack of project financial clarity, demanding Minister Sisulu “be honest” and say what happened to the promised R341 million allocated by her predecessor.
“You as Minister are ultimately the custodian of the Vaal River system. You need to take the necessary action to facilitate the funds to restore and rehabilitate the Vaal’s sanitation and River systems.
“Tell us when and how you will be doing this – the buck stops with you,” said Rosemary Cloete-Anderson, Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) spokesperson on Sewage and Water.
A Vaalweekblad/Ster investigation reveals individual sewage spillages of up to 135 megalitres a day continue to pollute communities and the Vaal River system whilst red-tape deprives the Army and ERWAT from the means of continuing  as already planned.
Both ERWAT and the SA Army are known to have used their own resources to thus far lay the basis for future success of the entire project but find themselves unable to continue.
ERWAT continues to be involved in the management of the project but was forced to withdraw personnel and trucks due to escalating costs but no forthcoming budget as promised, municipal sources said.
On direct instructions from Minister Sisulu, DWS Director-General Ntshangana Mbulelo visited the Vaal over the weekend to meet ELM, Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance stakeholders on the project, according to a Ministry spokesperson.
Minister Sisulu would also address the future direction of the multi-departmental Vaal River clean-up project during her Parliamentary Budget speech on July 16, said her spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya.
But Mabaya refused to be drawn or comment on any budgetary aspect or administrative problems confronting the mammoth Vaal project,
The DWS DG visit took place against a background of both the SA Army and water waste specialists ERWAT being forced to suspend operations due to lack of funding caused by administrative issues such as Purchase Orders not being allocated, reliable sources said.
Mbulelo’s message to especially the local municipality ELM was that an urgent solution must be found and ELM “needed to prioritise its water and sanitation infrastructure”, said Mabaya.
However, Mabaya did not comment on the funding issue and on calls from both civil society and the business sector to release the promised R341million – allocated and approved by Minister Nkwinti, Sisulu;s predecessor – before the May 8 elections.
Sisulu’s reaction came after GTCoC President Stefan Olivier last week demanded she clarify the project budgetary situation which has now led to the Vaal Army and other stakeholders stopping work.