Cabinet has noted interventions by government in addressing water and sanitation infrastructure challenges, which had resulted in the collapse of the Vaal waste water system.
Cabinet made the remarks after the recent Presidential Oversight Visit to Emfuleni Municipality.
The oversight visit was a follow-up on engagements with the community during the District Development Model (DDM) visit to Emfuleni in 2022, where issues of needy infrastructure maintenance by municipalities were identified.
Addressing media during post Cabinet briefing on Monday, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said work has been undertaken to improve water supply, including proper functioning of the waste water infrastructure, thus “eliminating the problem of the sewer effluent running on the streets and people’s yards”.
“Progress noted during the visit includes improvements in critical bulk pipelines and water pump stations, resurfacing and resealing of roads, and a massive rollout of streetlights to improve lighting and safety,” Ntshavheni said.
Progress in infrastructure development and maintenance
Cabinet also commended progress being made with infrastructure development and maintenance, which has seen the completion of 36 rural bridges under the Welisizwe Rural Bridges programme, and the construction of 20 projects in human settlements, roads and water, which are currently underway.
The Welisizwe bridges project is a government initiative aimed at addressing the backlog of bridges in rural and disadvantaged communities.
The bridges will improve community access to health facilities, schools and economic amenities.
The project involves the Public Works and Infrastructure Department, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and provincial Transport Departments.
Speaking at the recent launch of the project, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala said an amount of R1.1 billion will be spent per year in the Eastern Cape – which is the pilot for Welisizwe Bridges; KwaZulu-Natal; Free State; Mpumalanga; Limpopo and the North West.
The programme targets rural provinces where there is a backlog in the construction of bridges and a threat to life during rainy seasons. – SAnews.gov.za
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