WORK is almost half complete on the Mhlabatshane Bulk Water Supply Programme which will supply Umzumbe and the Hibiscus Coast municipalities.
Ugu district, through the appointed service provider, has commenced with the implementation of the fourth phase of the project which was designed in 2007 and launched in 2012.
On completion it will provide water to 10 tribal authority areas and 49 tribal wards.
“This multi-million rand project is part of the municipality’s ‘water master plan’ and aims to make a tangible impact of alleviating water supply backlogs within the rural communities of the district,” said Ugu spokesman Sipho Khuzwayo.
The contract award value of this project is R30,9-million. The installation of the pipeline commenced in June 2014 and is expected to be completed by May 2015.
“Currently the project is 15 percent complete and we are confident that our targets will be reached,” said Mr Khuzwayo.
This phase will be followed by the construction of a 2.5 mega litre reservoir in Mabheleni west and a 1.0 mega litres reservoir in Gcwalemini.
“These projects are still to undergo a tender process but we anticipate they will start in February next year,” added Mr Khuzwayo.
The total cost of the Mhlabatshane project amounts to R644-million. To date, awarded contracts on this project include the Mhlabatshane Bulk Water Supply Phase 3 which is 98 percent complete.
The 8.9 kilometre 350 millimetre diameter welded steel pipeline is 95 percent completed and the recently started Phase 4 is estimated to be completed by May next year.
The project has created numerous temporal employments for the people of Umzumbe.
“We have noticeably decreasing the unemployment rate in our district, concurrently dealing with the rate of poverty and unemployment,” concluded Mr Khuzwayo.
