Construction materials company PPC has rehabilitated nine boreholes in Madibeng, in the North West, and handed them over to the Madibeng municipality.

This project forms part of the cement maker’s local economic development commitments in terms of its mining licence, and it targeted the villages of Legonyane, Fafung, Rasai, Klipvoor, Vaalbosch, Rooival, Mmasebolana, Kwarriekraal and Sephai near its Beestekraal quarry.

The project involved putting nine existing boreholes back into working order, improving water storage infrastructure and putting security measures in place. PPC has invested R1.8-million in this first phase of the project, which impacts more than 10 000 people, says PPC inland business unit head Bheki Mthembu.

“We undertook an extensive process of consultation with local stakeholders within the municipality as well as in the various villages, and identified nine boreholes that needed attention owing to lack of maintenance or vandalism.

“The residents of the nine villages often lack access to reliable, clean water, so solving this challenge will make a big impact on their day-to-day lives,” he comments.

Further, the structures housing the pumps were strengthened with double walling, steel gates and concrete roofs, and it is hoped that making access difficult will protect this vital infrastructure better, Mthembu says.

The Madibeng municipality will assume responsibility for the maintenance of the boreholes in collaboration with its appointed borehole controllers in each village, once the formal handover is complete.

Phase 2 will start shortly, with PPC to undertake a new consultative process with all stakeholders to ascertain which areas need additional boreholes or generators for back-up power for the pumps.

“We are committed to working with the local communities in which our facilities are situated to improve the quality of lives and open up new opportunities for them,” he says.