The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr. Senzo Mchunu, has said that all taps in South Africa should have water. This comes after he was briefed about the water and sanitation situation in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality (MAP).
“Every tap in South Africa should be having water not just in certain towns and areas”, said Mchunu.
Minister Mchunu together with Deputy Minister Mahlobo and MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mxolisi Dukwana while being briefed about the water and sanitation situation in MAP, came to the realization that Vandalism, theft, and ageing infrastructure were top of the list.
Among the other issues raised were the municipality’s debt to the department amounting to half a billion rand, as well as sewage spillages that have engulfed the municipality.
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MAP Local Municipality Municipal Manager, Mr. Futhuli Mothamaha said that the municipality has begun a programme of installing pre-paid meters in order to address the issue of non-collection of revenue. The municipality will build capacity for maintenance as it appeared that there is a delay between damage to infrastructure and repair.
The Minister was clear that sewage spillages are priorities and should be treated as such. A meeting was scheduled to take place between DWS in the Free State as well as the municipality and Maluti-a-Phofung Water no later than 14:00 on 5 October 2021.
MEC Mxolisi Dukwana observed that there has been a rise in vandalism and theft of water and sanitation infrastructure especially leading up to the local government elections.
