Msukaligwa Municipality plans to upgrade bulk water supply to the tune of R1b
The project will be implemented in phases. The commencement of the construction is still to be confirmed.
ERMELO – After the previous article Highvelder had published regarding the water issues the town experienced, Mandla Zwane, the spokesperson for the Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM), told the newspaper they are busy with the final approvals on the project to improve the water problems.
He said the regional bulk water supply for the MLM’s Cluster 1 project’s implementation readiness studies (IRS) still need to be approved by the Department of Water and Sanitation.
“The outstanding documents prior the approval of the IRS are the legislative documents, including the environmental impact assessment approval. Once the approvals have been received, the design development will be finalised and the advertisement for the contractor will be rolled out,” Zwane said.
The project is dealing with the bulk infrastructure within Ermelo and Wesselton.
The project will be implemented in phases. The commencement of the construction is still to be confirmed.
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“The project will be addressing the upgrade of the northern and southern water treatment works and upgrade of the bulk pipeline between them. It’s also increasing the storage capacities with the construction of additional reservoirs.”
The project estimate is over R1b, inclusive of construction costs, professional fees, contingencies and escalation.
Zwane concluded that the actual project cost will be confirmed once the contractor is appointed. He also commented on the question regarding the allegations of poor communications from the MLM to the townspeople, and said: “The municipality’s communication is providing information through relevant communication platforms, to a specific and targeted audience.”
He added that the platforms include community media. The mayor appeared on RISE fm. There were posters, community meetings, ward committees, sectoral meetings, loud hailing and WhatsApp groups that cascaded the information to residents.
“The contact centre was created for the community to report water and electricity interruptions, among others.”
Highvelder sent follow-up questions regarding when the community, ward committee and sectoral meetings would take place and when the last meeting was held, and awaits response.
Questions regarding the allegations about the municipal call centre not answering residents’ queries were also posed, but no response was receive by the time of going to press.
