More than 15 000 students are expected to benefit from a R3-billion investment to train artisans like plumbers who, it is hoped, will stop millions of litres of water being wasted every year.
"What is important is that we want to stop the loss the R7-billion a year water loss that we are experiencing now. We are making sure that we have capable people to do the job,” Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane said while visiting Colliery Training College (CTC) in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, on Friday.
She was there to check on the progress of the 3000 students who had already started the programme. A total of 7000 would be enrolled in the second phase, and another 5000 in the third phase.
Every trainee would get their own set of tools and one-on-one mentoring, she said. They would play a major role in reducing leaks and saving the country both water and money.
She said the “war on leaks” which President Jacob Zuma announced in August last year was going “fairly well”.
“Some of those who are here can be entrepreneurs in future. Others can be absorbed by our water boards, while others can be absorbed in maintaining of our public institutions,” Mokonyane said.