MOKOPANE – MEMBERS of the Mokopane Business Chamber met with a delegation from the Mogalakwena Municipality late last year to raise certain concerns.
On Monday, the chamber sent an update via press release.
The following concerns were raised and addressed:
Sewage: The chamber showed air photos taken by one of its members, which clearly showed that a seepage problem into the Nile River from the current sewage treatment plant existed recently. The municipality is familiar with the sewage seepage that went into the Nile, caused by the collapse of a sub-standard retaining wall.
They had to wait for an area to dry out first before rehabilitation could commence.
This problem has now been solved and assurance given that raw sewage is not going into the Nile River anymore.
• The current sewage works at 9,8 megalitres and it is way too small for its demands. This has held back development of the area.
Funding to the estimate of R200 million over two years has now been secured for an additional 10 megalitre sewage treatment plant to be built on the Marken road, away from the residential areas.
This should take care of the sewage needs up to the year 2045, another R15 million will be used to upgrade the existing facilities also.
• The issue with substandard work in the past by contractors was addressed. The delegation of the municipality stated that the municipality has started to turn up the heat on these contractors, with a number who have had their contracts terminated already.
Although 20% of the sewage works contract will go to emerging contractors, the municipality is fully aware that very specific expertise and knowledge is required and will ensure that the required skills level are contracted.
The Mokopane Business Chamber was also invited to attend site visits with municipal officials.
Stormwater drains: A four page list of problematic storm water drains in the CBD tabled by the business chamber was dwarfed by the volume of such already researched by the municipality.
The delegation of the municipality expressed their frustrations at people stealing anything of a metallic nature, and sell it to unscrupulous scrap metal dealers.
The municipality is trying to resolve this matter of theft, any help or suggestions from members of the business chamber or the public to help bring these people to justice will be appreciated.
Roads: The business chamber is concerned with the expected increase in heavy vehicle traffic in town due to the new mines.
The delegation of the municipality stated that the visual assessments by competent engineers have already been done.
Comprehensive lists of what needs to be done have already been drawn up.
This has been prioritised with the available funds.
A roads master plan has been completed with a similar plan for the storm water drainage in the pipeline.
The implementation of this plan would cost R3 billion.
The municipality proudly stated that over the last few years, the Mogalakwena Municipality has managed to raise close to R1 billion in grant funding alone.
Water supply: The 22 boreholes at Weenen and Planknek are showing a drop in delivery.
The pipeline from Flag Boshielo dam is scheduled to reach the Mogalakwena area in 2020.
In the meantime the municipality is proceeding with the infrastructure needed to make the water potable and distribute it further into the municipal area. The completion planning date for this is December 2019.
An amount of R400 million of the R1 billion needed for this project has already been raised.
Prepaid water meters will be installed throughout the area to curtail water theft.
A coupon system will be used and monitored, which will very quickly show when a stand is not paying anything towards water usage.
General: The business chamber delegation left the meeting with a better understanding of the level of planning that has gone into the future development of the Mogalakwena municipal area.
All their concerns were addressed which will assist in better cooperation between organised local business and the municipality.
