According to the Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM), the Sheepmoor Bulk Water Supply Scheme project is set to begin in July.
As previously reported in the Highvelder, 5 October 2017, Sheepmoor had no water for more than four months last year.
This had led to numerous service delivery protests with one resulting in the community barricading roads and forcing schools and clinics to shut down.
The protesters were angry because the Msukaligwa Municipality is doing and saying nothing to fix the problem.
Sheepmoor relies on boreholes as a primary water source.
The boreholes are not reliable and a constant lack of sustainable water supply is reported by the community.
According to residents in the area, the problem has been going on for years.
A service delivery protest that turned violent eventually made GSDM and council sit up and take note, as 16 people were arrested for public violence.
They were however released.
The project will be divided into three phases which will be executed simultaneously.
Phase one will see the water treatment package plant being delivered on 6 July.
This is the treatment plant to be used for the water purification process.
Phase two will be the delivery of bulk pipe material to convey raw water from the Department of Water and Sanitation’s existing pipeline to the package plant.
Phase three will see the appointment of a contractor who will be responsible for the laying of pipes and construction.
This is currently on a procurement stage. Furthermore, the ongoing studies on the water user license agreement are at an advanced stage.
The service provider appointed for the plant will soon move to site to commence with the construction of the plant.
This is expected to create short-term job opportunities for the local community.
According to a Sheepmoor resident, the project has begun with officials hiring general workers in the past week.
As per the commitment by the executive mayor of GSDM, Mr Muzi Chirwa, during the State of the District Address, it is expected that by the end of September this year, the community of Sheepmoor should be receiving clean drinking water.
