Mchunu continues to engage on Joburg City water challenges

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu continues to engage with the City of Johannesburg on measures to ensure water supply sustainability.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) said a meeting was convened this week, where a detailed presentation was made by Deputy Director-General for Water and Sanitation Services Management, Dr Risimati Mathye.

The meeting was attended by the city’s Acting Executive Mayor Loyiso Masuku, Joburg Water and the Rand Water Board, amongst others. 

Mathye said the city’s total average water supply/volume is 1 686 097 kilo litres per day and supplies a population of 5 866 550. 

“Notwithstanding its Blue Drop score of 98.1% in 2023, the City of Johannesburg loses 46.1% of the water supplied to it by Rand Water,” Mathye said.

Other challenges noted include an increase in the frequency of water main bursts, the reduction of water storage capacity due to leaking and isolation of reservoirs, and water theft via illegal connections in informal settlements, among others.

Mchunu said the persistent water supply challenges in Johannesburg are of great concern and negatively reflect on all the stakeholders in the sector.

“It requires us to continue engaging on measures to completely address them. The projects required are seemingly easily identifiable, but there are funding constraints that we need to address and resolve,” the Minister said.

A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for 18 March 2024.

Working visit to Greater Kokstad

Meanwhile, Mchunu will on Friday embark on a working visit to Greater Kokstad in the Harry Gwala District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal to assess the status of water and sanitation. 

The department said during the visit, Mchunu will hand over the contractor for the raising of the Kempsdale Dam Wall and the construction of a pump station, which is envisaged to augment water supply capacity in areas including Kokstad Town, Kokstad C-Max Prison, Shayamoya and Bhongweni.

“Approximately 69 146 people are expected to benefit upon the completion of this project,” the department said in a statement. 
 
After the handing over of the contractor, Mchunu will hold a meeting with various stakeholders and the community of Kokstad to solicit their views, concerns and comments on the state of water and sanitation provision in the area. 

The community engagement will be held at Bhongweni Youth Centre in Kokstad.

The Minister will be accompanied by Harry Gwala District Municipality Mayor Zamo Nxumalo, as well as local municipality mayors and traditional authorities. – SAnews.gov.za