Minister Mchunu intervenes in pursuit of addressing water misery in Polokwane

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu met with Polokwane Municipality Executive Mayor Councillor John Mpe and Lepelle Northern Water Board today, 10 November 2022 at Euphoria Golf Estate in Mookgophong just outside Polokwane in Limpopo.

Minister Mchunu stepped in with a view to resolving water supply challenges in Polokwane and surrounding areas, this comes after Seshego residents were up in arms recently demanding consistent water supply and pleading with the municipality to write off their water bills since their taps are regularly dry.

During the engagement, Minister Mchunu accentuated that the DWS will keep a very close eye on the ongoing water and sanitation projects aimed at delivering water to the people of Polokwane and surrounds.

“Rest assured, we are not going to allow anyone to make commitments and not fulfil them, our people are in dire need of water. We want constant updates on the ongoing projects”, Minister Mchunu emphasised. 

Polokwane Municipality Executive Mayor Councillor John Mpe expressed his gratitude to Minister Mchunu for his prompt intervention in attempting to resolve water supply challenges in Limpopo particularly in Polokwane.

Risimati Mathye, the Deputy Director-General of Water Services Management at the Department provided a brief background regarding ministerial intervention for water and sanitation services in Polokwane.

“Some of the projects that need urgent intervention are: optimising of Polokwane and Seshego water reticulation distribution zones, 20 mega litres per day regional wastewater treatment plant which is currently underway through RBIG funding, refurbishing of Dap Naude Water and Sanitation Infrastructure, refurbishing and upgrading of existing Polokwane, Seshego and Mankweng Wastewater Treatment Works”, Mathye said.

After lengthy deliberations the following recommendations were made in order to bring to an end to water woes in Polokwane: R 120 million to be made available to address the short term interventions for the five (5) groundwater projects that are under construction, further allocation of RBIG funding of R200 million in January 2023 can be made available upon appointment of service providers for Polokwane Wastewater Treatment Works.

Minister Mchunu also made an undertaking that he will write a follow-up letter to the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform with a view of accelerating the resolution of the letter of concert for use of servitude for Seshego Wastewater Treatment Works and associated infrastructure.

Source: Government of South Africa