Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu will embark on a two-day visit to Limpopo to assess the state of water and waste water systems in the Capricorn, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg District Municipalities.
Mchunu’s visit on Wednesday and Thursday forms part of efforts to turn around long-standing water challenges and ensure improvement of water security and waste water management in the province through inter-governmental relations processes and public-private partnerships.
Accompanied by Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, Mchunu will also conduct site visits to the Masodi Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) in Mogalakwena Local Municipality and the much-anticipated Olifantspoort Project site that will be cutting across three of the five district municipalities in Limpopo.
During the visit, Mchunu will receive a progress update on the construction of the 10 megalitres a day (ml/d) Masodi WWTW in Mokopane, a multi-year public-private partnership project that is implemented by Mogalakwena Municipality and fully funded by Ivanplats Proprietary Limited Mine.
“Upon completion, the waste water treatment plant will improve sanitation provision to Mokopane and surroundings, and enable local industries to have access to raw water for reuse from the treated effluent released from the plant,” the department said.
Mchunu will also engage stakeholders on progress update of the Olifants Management Model (OMM), a 50/50 partnership Olifants River Water Resources Development Project between the department and the Lebalelo Water User Association.
The project involves the development of additional water resource infrastructure, including the De Hoop Dam on the Steelpoort River and a bulk distribution system to benefit the Sekhukhune District and Mogalakwena Local Municipality.
The Minister will on Thursday conduct a site visit to the Olifantspoort Water Treatment Works, which is to undergo refurbishment and upgrading from 60 to 120 ml/d in order to improve its performance, capacity, and to meet current and future potable water demands.
“The water treatment plant forms part of the Olifants/ Ebenezer Water supply Schemes and serves as a one of the lifelines for drinking water to Polokwane in the Capricorn District,” the department said.
Mchunu will be joined by Lepelle Northern Water, partners from the private sector, mining sector, the provincial government and the affected municipalities. – SAnews.gov.za
