WATCH: Municipality has water situation under control – Mayor

POLOKWANE – The Polokwane Mayor John Mpe says the water situation in the city is under control.

Mpe spoke to residents during a city cluster stakeholder engagement session at the Jack Botes Hall on Thursday (April 13) where the municipality consulted over their proposed draft integrated developmental plan for 2023/24.

The municipality detailed its progress in as far as basic service delivery such as water, the construction and maintenance of public facilities like parks, proper roads, sanitation and electricity, among others.

Mpe said the municipality has a clear short, medium and long-term plan to address water struggles in the city that has left residents frustrated for many years.

Mpe said short term solutions include the fixing of boreholes, maintenance at the Dalmada plant and repairs of pump stations in collaboration with Lepelle Northern Water (LNW).

“LNW has received over R400m to refurbish all pump stations and to start working on improving resources at the Olifantspoort Plant. This will provide the city with 27M/l per day, while Ebenezer will give 32M/l per day,” he said.

Mpe said the municipality has also improved their output from the Dap Naude dam to 14M/l of water per day.

“There was a lot of outcry over the water situation last year and we believe we are now in control of the situation. We know exactly which areas will be effected if certain pumps are being repaired or under ordinary maintenance. We know exactly what to do,” he added.

During the engagement session, representatives from various wards in the city were given an opportunity to outline challenges faced in their wards.

Read more in next week’s Polokwane Observer.