In pursuit of the mandate to provide hygienic water to communities, uThukela District Mayor Siphiwe Mazibuko, Deputy Mayor Nombali Mchunu, Speaker Phindile Strydom and Water, Sanitation & Technical Services chairperson Cllr S Dlungwane visited the Ntabamhlophe cluster last Friday.
They were accompanied by Chief Whip Cllr Nkosana Mazibuko, the uThukela District Technical Services team and officials. Ward councillors were also present.
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The purpose was to introduce a contractor who will be undertaking a water project in six wards.
According to Cllr Dlungwane, the scheme that was built by uThukela District was vandalised and people also made illegal connections, which collapsed the system.
“Our Technical Services department works together to make sure the project is implemented successfully. Normally, when we introduce a contractor, we call the community, but due to challenges encountered with Covid-19, we have called only the relevant stakeholders,” the district mayor said.
When completed, the project will serve approximately 8129 households in the area. It is also envisaged to create about 15 temporary job opportunities for locals residents.
The project is expected to take up to 10 months to complete. This water project has been awarded to Madudla Contractors. It is estimated that over R10.1 million will be injected into the project on its completion.
The funding is from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG).
In line with the scope of work, the contractor will repair leaks in the existing Ntabamhlophe bulk and reticulation scheme.
They will also do repairs of air, scour and isolating valves; and repairs of break pressure tanks; as well as construction of two reservoir access roads. Councillors were grateful that the district has come to their rescue. They said the construction of water infrastructure is very important to address water challenges in the area.
The contractor, on the other hand, pleaded for a good working relationship with the ward councillors in order for the project to be a success.
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