Limpopo, South Africa: Senzo Mchunu, South African Minister of Water and Sanitation has reaffirmed the Ministry’s and Department’s commitment to providing water to the people.
The South African Minister made the declaration during the launch event of the Olifants Management Model Program (OMM) at Ga-Malekana Tribal Authority just outside Burgersfort in Limpopo.
The program is expected to expedite the construction of the potable and bulk raw water infrastructure to ensure that nearby communities, as well as the surrounding mining, agricultural, and other businesses in Sekhukhune District, Polokwane, and Mogalakwena Local Municipalities, have sufficient water by 2030.
Minister Mchunu stated in his keynote address during the launch that this project is a significant turning point for democracy and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“This is a very good example of collective efforts, it is a three-dimensional partnership between the government, the private sector and more importantly the people of this area. This is a huge investment to the current and future generations, and it needs to be maintained,” remarked Minister Mchunu.
The program, a partnership between the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Lebalelo Water Users Association (LWUA), is a prime example of the impact of public collaborations when there is a readiness to do so. the initiative will undoubtedly go a long way toward addressing issues in the water and sanitation sector.
It is critical to start water access projects that help provide clean, safe drinking water to communities in need since both DWS and LWUA view dependable access to decent, healthy water as being crucial to life, nature, and economic prosperity.
The project’s aim includes, among other things, providing water to Mogalakwena by diverting some of the current Lebalelo scheme supply from Flag Boshielo Dam to De Hoop Dam and building reticulation and accompanying infrastructure to assist a total of 134 settlements.
The Lebalelo Water Customers Association, on behalf of the government and the business users, will finance the program, with an anticipated cost of $1.3 billion. These companies include Anglo American Platinum, Cheetah Chrome, Glencore-Merafe, Implats, Ivanplats, Northam, Tameng, and African Rainbow Minerals.
Additionally, this operation would address the urgent water demand of about 380,000 people in the designated Limpopo province areas and has the potential to generate 42,000 employments.
Collaboration was the key phrase during the project launch by DWS and Lebalelo, and both parties agree that this will, among other things, unlock the area’s tactical mineral and industrial potential and, quite relevantly, it will offer a variety of advantages like much-needed water security, job creation, and socioeconomic development.
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