For more than a year now, the Matjhabeng Local Municipality has borne the brunt of water supply challenges.
The incumbent administration declared the area as a disaster and, as a result, Matjhabeng has been receiving assistance through the ministerial intervention since July 2022.
The intervention team includes the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, implementing agent Bloem Water, and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).
The scope of work to be covered consists of upgrading wastewater treatment works, refurbishment of sewer pump stations, sewer pipe network repairs, and the unblocking of manholes.
The total number of projects in the programme are 78 for the next 4 years, with 59 projects prioritised.
Twenty-nine priority projects are to be activated in the 2023/’24 financial year, including sewerage network pipeline repairs and the refurbishment or upgrading of pump stations.
Bloem Water has also been doing maintenance to secure water supply to the locality, as well as the greater Lejweleputswa District.
Areas such as Ventersburg, Mmamahabane, Allanridge, and Riebeeckstad have been the hardest hit by water challenges.
Water shedding has been implemented to assist in the filling of water reservoirs during the night in order to enable water supply during the day.
Other contingency measures include the installation of boreholes in the municipality’s wards.
The process to install boreholes in 30 wards is at an advanced stage, with two already installed at ward 3 (Phomolong, Henneman, and Riebeeckstad’s ward 10) and four underway in wards 1, 2, 17, and 25.
Furthermore, the municipality now has 11 water tankers to supply water to affected areas when necessary.
Ward councillors are assisting the officials tasked with implementing the distribution plan to identify affected communities.
Two new water tankers were procured earlier this week to the tune of R4 943 298. The two UD Trucks each have the capacity to hold 18 000 litres of water.
The Matjhabeng Local Municipality has also embarked on the Operation Patala initiative to boost revenue collection in the locality so as to attend to its debt to Bloem Water.
The municipality and Bloem Water have each committed to contribute R4 million to refurbish the vandalised Saaiplaas water treatment plant in Virginia, which will be used to distribute water to some areas of Thabong and Welkom.
The work has begun in earnest and an armed security company will be appointed to patrol and safeguard the plant and pipeline.
It has been discovered that Matjhabeng loses most of its water due to leaking pipes. As a result, repairing pipes has been prioritised in order to address the problem.
This week’s improved water supply is a result of the improved pumping capacity at the Balkfontein water treatment plant.
All hands are on deck to speedily resolve the water challenge and provide a long-term solution to the water crisis facing the area. A war room consisting of leadership and officials of the DWS, Bloem Water, and the Matjhabeng Local Municipality has been established and members virtually converge at 07:00 and 17:00, daily.
As of 06:00 on Wednseday (14/06), water reservoir levels were as follows:
Old high at 2%;
New high (31%);
Dirksburg 1 (60%);
Dirksburg 2 (77%);
Brabant 1 (16%); and
Brabant 2 (54%).
Residents can report water leakages by calling 087-728-2111, or using the WhatsApp line on 079-885-3311.
