Water and Sanitation project got an extra budget injection of R491 million this financial year said the Department of Human Settlement, Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, Mr David Mahlobo.

This money is set aside for cleaning the highly polluted Vaal River and repairing the aging network infrastructure which boasts 3 waste water treatment plants and 44 waste water pump stations across the service area of the municipality.

Deputy minister Mahlobo, flanked by Gauteng MEC Mr. Lebohang Maile, and Local Mayors were addressing over 40 local stakeholders at the Emerald Resort and Casino.

The project is now 13 months in the running with Rand Water appointed as the implementing agent. In a status report jointly presented by the Municipal Manager, Mr. Lucky Leseane and Metsi-a-Lekoa Chief Director, Mr. Madoda Besani, it was confirmed that a lot of critical work has been done to contain most of the water leaks plaguing the municipality. The Municipal Manager said that he is thankful for the Section 63 intervention and all the good work done in the Water and Sanitation department.

“In as much as the intervention is helpful towards solving some of our water and sanitation service delivery challenges, our biggest bottleneck remains non-payment. As Emfuleni, we are in pursuit of financially sustainable municipality, it is in this spirit that I urge consumers who are not paying for services to start paying and those who are paying to continue doing so,” said Leseane.

The Municipal Manager further invited indigent families register for the benefit in order to assist the municipality to continue rendering services.

Deputy Minister Mahlobo made use of the platform to introduce contractors appointed for various engineering disciplines of the upcoming project. In his introduction, Mahlobo touched on procurement procedures to be followed to ensure non disruption of the upcoming projects.

“You are reminded that you must follow the implementation of the government procurement policy that promotes localisation, enterprise development with preference to the vulnerable groups of women, youth and people living with disabilities. We need transparency on the 30% local contractor beneficiation for the projects to succeed”, Mahlobo said.