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DWS sets out MTEF budget for Vaal clean-up

25th May 2021

By: Natasha Odendaal

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has set aside R1.1-billion over the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period for the refurbishment of the Vaal river wastewater treatment plants.

A further R700-million, over the MTEF period, has been set aside to add more capacity on the sewer network.

The years-long pollution of the Vaal river has been a significant challenge threatening the Vaal River System, which spans three provinces and two countries, necessitating intervention by the department.

Government plans to invoke Section 63 of the Water Services Act, which would see the DWS taking over water and sanitation services within the jurisdiction of the Emfuleni local municipality.

The DWS has been in discussions with and received the concurrence of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Gauteng Premier David Makhura, with the support of Deputy President David Mabuza, to intervene.

“We are, all three spheres of government, in agreement that this should be done and we have already put in place steps to implement this, pending Cabinet agreement,” said Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

The plan will soon be presented to Cabinet for further guidance and endorsement.

“Emfuleni municipality as a water service authority will be taken over by the national government and Rand Water has been appointed as the implementing agent to take full responsibility of operations and maintenance of the municipality’s water and sanitation infrastructure. Coupled with this is the refurbishment of the wastewater systems,” she continued.

The department is finalising the appointment of contractors to urgently address the dire situation and undertake the upgrade of the Vaal river infrastructure to prevent sewage spills.

The tenders were advertised in November, with closure in January, for the expertise required in the areas of civil engineering, mechanical engineering and consultants to implement the work.

“We have already started putting out requests and advertising for engineers.”

Speaking during the department’s budget vote on May 25, she said, however, that the problem will not be solved with infrastructure capacity only.

“What has got us to where we are in the Vaal crisis can be grouped into three pillars: infrastructure, governance and institutional capacity and finance. There are additional factors, such as other provinces contributing to the crisis, resulting in the continued state of pollution of the Vaal river.”

The river’s geographic position and flat topography resulted in the Vaal becoming a “collection point” from various sewer points and putting excessive strain on operation and maintenance of pumps at stations.

“Ideally, sewer treatment is a municipal service that requires cost recovery as a minimum.

“However, the high unemployment and dwindling revenue collection in the Vaal area is making it difficult for the Emfuleni municipality to recover any costs or generate an income to cover operation and maintenance, let alone expansion of the treatment plants,” she added.

Meanwhile, Sisulu tabled an estimated MTEF budget allocation for the DWS of R16.9-billion for 2021/22, R17.4-billion for 2022/23 and R18.03-billion for 2023/24.

The final departmental appropriation budget for the financial year ended March 31, 2021, was R16.99-billion, the expenditure of which amounted to R14.5-billion, representing 85% of the total adjusted appropriation.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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