Mamelodi East sewer upgrade to improve livelihoods, says MMC

The bulk sewer upgrade and pump station project in Mamelodi East Extension 6 worth over R40-million is expected to be finished in 18 months’ time.

Tshwane MMC for Human Settlements Aaron Maluleka said the R43-million project was aimed at improving the quality of life of people of Phomolong in Mamelodi East.

“We have engaged with all stakeholders and we do not anticipate that there will be disruption because everybody was informed timelessly about the project,” said Maluleka.

The MMC officially launched the project on April 14.

He said the initiative will provide modern sanitation to residents while creating local employment opportunities through the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP).

“The project demonstrates Tshwane’s ongoing commitment to improving living conditions and delivering essential services to our communities by upgrading the conditions of areas of Mamelodi.”

Maluleka believes the project will bring relief for people relocating to the area.

“We are doing both pump station and reticulation of sewer. The project is going to be here for 18 months,” he added.

He said they were going to create over 50 job opportunities.
“We have engaged with all stakeholders.

“We are excited that part of our work of upgrading our informal settlement and incremental development is flourishing and our people are going to benefit,” he added.

Phomolong has over 1 000 stands.

Prince Ramano from Tlopo Construction and General Services said: “We are here to start the pump station project and connect 1 050 houses to the water network .

Ramano said the project will be completed in about 18 months.

“At inception we are going to employ more than 20 EPWP [workers].

“As it progresses, we will have extra people, but it will depend on the activities on the days,” said Ramano.

He said most of the work will be at the pump station site.

The pump station is going to be 9m deep.

“We are pleading with the community to be far away from the project, because of the depth of the pump station and we don’t want any incidents.”

He further pleaded with the community to support this project and avoid disruptions, because “they will cost us a lot of money and cause delays”.

Ramano added that Tlopo Construction will also be looking for artisans or giving artisan students an opportunity to learn “and at the end of the project we will employ some of the students”.

Phomolong residents were excited about the new project, because it is going to improve their living conditions and create job opportunities for them.

Resident Sarah Makoa said: “Finally, the much-needed service delivery is here.

“No more mobile toilets or walking long distances to fetch water in buckets.

“We are going to live like other communities with all essential services.”

Jack Mashilo said: “No more waiting for water trucks.

“This is the service we have been longing for all this time.

“We hope that the project will run smoothly with no disruptions until the end.

“The exciting thing about the project is creating to job opportunities for unemployed youth members,” said Mashilo.

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