THE rapid increase in informal settlements and the need to provide access to decent sanitation for these communities has prompted eThekwini Municipality to roll out more than 500 ablution facilities in phase three of a project aimed and providing water and sanitation services to settlements and schools within the city’s borders.
A report before the Executive Committee this week said the municipality had identified the provision of sanitation to informal settlements as a strategic programme in line with the National Development Plan (NDP).
it said that some 550 informal settlements had been identified to be investigated for community ablution blocks.
In order to meet the delivery targets of the Municipality, the report requested additional funding be allocated for the project. It calimed that the current budget allocation could only deliver approximately 300 facilities out of a current possible 1 100 sites under phase three of the project. Since the commencement of phase three of the project in August 2015, more than 200 operational facilities have been delivered and more than 140 are currently under construction. T
“The delivery of ablution facilities needs to be accelerated due to the rapid increase in informal settlements and the need to provide access to decent and dignified sanitation solutions to all communities of eThekwini Municipality, particularly those living in informal settlements,” the report stated.
Chairperson of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Mondli Mthembu, welcomed a suggestion that the Executive Committee do an inspection in loco of the project and its delivery thus far.
He said his Committee also wanted to perform a site visit to view the ablution blocks.
Currently, the programme is funded through the Department of Education for the schools project, an Urban Settlement Development Infrastructure Grant, a Infrastructure Development ORIO Grant (A Dutch grant worth R180 million with the requirement that 400 sites be constructed) and, savings allocated from other projects.
