South Africa: The residents of KwaXimba under the eThekwini Municipality will finally receive relief from their water woes and have access to potable water closer to their homes and business establishments.
This comes after teams led by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Nomusa Dube-Ncube today visited various local service delivery projects, including static water tanks that are being installed in the area, which will provide over 500,000 kilolitres of water.
The programme also forms parts of the KwaZulu-Natal Water Master Plan Intervention Programme, which spells out the water-related challenges while outlining the short, medium and long-term solutions.
Addressing scores of community members during an engagement at the Manzolwandle Sports Field in KwaXimba, Premier Dube-Ncube said the Provincial Government of KwaZulu-Natal had prioritised the provision of water and other basic services, including electricity, sanitation, roads and access to an internet connection.
“The Provincial administration has a keen interest in ensuring that everyone, mainly those in rural communities, also tastes the full benefits of freedom by ensuring that they receive basic services like decent sanitation and water. Water is life, and it is an important resource we cannot survive without. We cannot grow the economy & create employment without water. We have also engaged eThekwini Municipality to bring in additional expertise, including engineers that will work tirelessly to address the water challenges in affected communities,” said Premier Dube-Ncube.
Furthermore, Premier Dube-Ncube said other major water projects to be rolled-out in EThekwini include:
•Procurement of two water purification plants before the end of June 2023;
•A water recycling project for industries to free up potable water in order to enhance water supply in areas such as KwaXimba;
•Exploring technologies such as desalination to enhance water supply and improve water security;
•Deploying big static water tanks as a temporary measure;
• Fast-tracking the construction of the upper Umkhomazi Dam to ensure that there is sufficient water supply in eThekwini.
“These water interventions are among the clearest signs by our administration of our commitment to building better communities by ensuring delivery that is tangible, demonstrable and measurable. We call upon communities to work closely with law enforcement agencies by reporting any vandalism to water infrastructure. Residents must protect the critical infrastructure that the government has built to ensure access to water.”
“One of the biggest challenges facing communities in the municipality is damage and vandalism of critical infrastructure that brings much-needed water supply. Our municipalities are losing millions of rand annually because of illegal water connections, which hamper our efforts as a government to bring water to our communities. We as the communities must take a stand against these criminals,” said Premier Dube-Ncube.
Premier Dube-Ncube also handed over a cheque valued at R300 000 to the Sizamela Isizwe Bafazi Primary Co-operative Ltd as part of an extensive economic empowerment programme. The co-operative, which 14 women run, also received sewing machines to sew garments, including school uniforms, jackets and trousers.
The MEC joined Premier Dube-Ncube for Social Development Nonhlanhla Khoza, MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Super Zuma, eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, Provincial House of Traditional Leaders Chairperson Inkosi Shinga, Members of the Provincial Legislature, local leadership and the Director-General of the Province Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize.
