Mayor outlines water supply plans to SAHRC panel

POLOKWANE – Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) will in the long term require an estimated R11b to upgrade all bulk infrastructure conveying water to Polokwane urban and rural areas.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), headed by commissioner Philile Ntuli and provincial manager Victor Mavhidula, assisted by Dr Eileen Carter, from last Tuesday to Friday dealt with complaints and heard presentations from stakeholders about problems with the access to clean drinking water and supply in the province.

Polokwane Mayor John Mpe and acting municipal manager Ramakuntwane Selepe presented the water situation in the Polokwane municipal area.

The panel was informed that the two main existing water supply systems (Ebenezer and Olifantspoort) that have been constructed in the early 70s, have already reached a point where the demand of the city is far greater than the allocation.

The Dap Naudé system has also reached a stage where it can no longer supply additional water to the city. Polokwane is generally a water scarce area with a very low rainfall, this poses a challenge in relying on underground water as an alternative source.

Short -, medium- and long-term planning

As a short-term solution, the municipality is also in a process of implementing ground water projects that will bring to the city additional 19 Ml/day to augment the current water supply.

These projects are planned to be completed in the second quarter of 2022. These projects started in June 2019 and varies between 69% and 95% completion.

As part of medium-term planning the municipality has submitted an implementation readiness study (IRS) to the Department of Water and Sanitation to approve and secure funding for the implementation of the following projects:

• Completion of Polokwane ground water projects – (Polokwane, Seshego, Bloodriver and Perskebult ground water development, treatment and distribution).

• Turfloop/Diepriver Wellfield development, treatment, and distribution.

• Dap Naudé Dam bulk water conveyance infrastructure refurbishment.

• Water conservation and demand management including optimisation of Polokwane urban water distribution pressure supply zones and the implementation of a SCADA system. including installation of appropriate measures such as prepaid meters in Mankweng and Polokwane.

As part of long-term solutions Lepelle Northern Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation need to invest in projects to bring additional bulk water to the city as part of their mandate:

• Lepelle Northern Water requires a budget of approximately R3b for the immediate upgrading of the Olifants-Sand water scheme.

• R700m is required by LNW for the immediate upgrading of Ebenezer water scheme infrastructure.

For the long-term LNW will require an estimated R11b to upgrade all bulk infrastructure conveying water to Polokwane urban and rural areas.

Other pressing issues

Mavhidula said many projects were underway, and that the SAHRC will monitor and ask for a report at the end of this year to determine if residents in the city and surrounds will be better off in terms of water supply. He requested a report to be submitted outlying the dates when submissions were made to DWS and progress made with the submissions.

He said it was the constitutional obligation, with legal implication, of the municipality to see that residents and communities have water, and once communities have settled, they need water and services. He referred to Mamahule, where there is no water or services. He asked what the municipality’s plans were for service delivery for that community.

He also stated valid complaints received about estimations of water usage, as well as complaints about the call centre, where phone calls go unanswered, as well as the conduct of officials acting as if they do residents a favour to assist them, citing an incident in the rates hall he himself has witnessed recently.

He also mentioned the non-availability of smart meters and batteries when meters are faulty and residents sometimes do not have access to water. With regard to grants spent on water projects, Mpe said the city has improved incrementally during the last three years, with 97% of the grants used the last financial year. Twenty-eight water tankers were purchased to supply emergency water to the city and rural areas.

Challenges with Lepelle Northern Water were outlined, with Mpe saying it would be better if the city has its own entity as the municipality could then hold the entity accountable for delivery of supply, other than another entity which has its own CEO and corporate governance structures. He said it was not an issue of payment being outstanding, as the city’s debts are paid regularly and timeously.

Mpe said he has also requested an investigation and report from the CFO regarding billing problems. He said problems cannot be hidden, as they needed to be addressed.

Service providers also needed to be properly monitored, and he said there will be an end to all directors occupying the sixth floor of the civic building “like a cabinet”, but that they should sit among their departments and keep tabs on problems and challenges.

He cited problems with land usage, nepotism and entitlement to be addressed. The SAHRC pledged their support where needed.