Water and Sanitation Minister, Nomvula Mokonyane, has announced full government support for Nelson Mandela Bay's Nooitgedacht Water Scheme.
This was one of several interventions that her Department will make in the Metro in the 2015/2016 financial year which include plans to eradicate the bucket toilet system, still prevalent in parts of Nelson Mandela Bay.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Minister Mokonyane said that millions of rands will be injected into water and sanitation infrastructure projects in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
"We here in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, amongst other things, to activate our programme of action for 2015/2016 financial year. In it there's been an issue of national government coming to support Nelson Mandela Bay with regard to the development of the Nooitgedacht Water Scheme as well as other schemes that must assist in terms of water availability in the Metro."
"In it also we're looking at the issues related to sanitation in the area and we do know amongst other that this is but one of the Metro's that has got the largest number of buckets that have to be eradicated. We have been engaging with the MEC (Fikile Xasa) in line with the project that is being championed through Minister Pravin Gordhan. The MEC for Cogta in the Eastern Cape together with the Department of Water and Sanitation are now going to be working together with the Metropolitan Council in finding sustainable solutions to the implementation of the critical projects that are water and sanitation related."
"We not only looking at the issue of money shortage that has do to with projects, but we also looking at improving the systems of project implementation as well as operations and maintainence. The other thing that we are also looking at is the adaption to the realities of water scarcity as well as protection of water in the Metro. As we speak now the non-revenue water stands at 43% which we believe is quite a high number and at 33% with regard to water losses."
"There's also a high level of water extraction in the Metro and we believe that working together with the Metro we can assist in terms of reducing the megalitres that are being extracted (from supply dams) by the City. The last thing that is also quite important is that we have to ensure that the Water and Sanitation Master Plan of Nelson Mandela Bay adapts to the realities of the capacity requirements, the financial requirements, the realities of the rainfall that have been very low in this region but also climate change issues so that we have in all inclusive solution."
"But, we also have to go out together to go and talk to communities about how to save water in a much more responsible way. It can't be business as usual, starting with how we plan, how we manage, how we deliver water as government in the Metro. So, we're lookig forward to a good working relationship with the Metro. We will also be working with the Department of Human Settlements to adapt the Human Settlement design so that they respond to the issue of water scarcity, energy efficiency, so that at the end of the day we all come to appreciate that water has no subsitute and this is a resource that has to be properly managed."
"Leaving aside the issue of money, water availablity in Nelson Mandela Bay is a challenge."
The Minister also responded to several questions from the media. Her responses to some of them are captured below.
1) What will the relationship be with Nelson Mandela Bay Metro?
"First thing that we are going to do is to look at the plans, assess whether the plans can actually help us to respond to the issues of water availability. Look at the shortfall in terms of money but also work together with the Metro in reassuring ourselves that there is capacity to spend but also in ensuring that the Metro focusses on the medium to long term with regard to operations and maintainence. "
"The other thing that we are also going to be doing is create a situation where all other infrastructure-led interventions also adapt to the issue of water availability in the area. We have a provincial presence here, so the provincial team, supported by the MEC and Minister Gordhan's team are actually going to take the lead in driving the interventions that we are making her in Nelson Mandela Bay. So, that at the end of the day we are able to make a difference. So, we are not just bringing money to Nelson Mandela Bay, we're coming to Nelson Mandela Bay to work in finding sustainable solutions within the entire value chain."
2) Timeframes for projects including Nooitgedacht?
"Every project has a timeframe. Nooitgedacht is up to 2018 but remember there is an after care. As we work we must make sure that as the scheme is up and running, completed, maintainence is ready to kick and make the scheme to be sustainable. It has always been that the role is to give support to local authorities, but here there is an exception now because of the Metro having not been able to run and deliver as it was expected. Hence we are all coming in to say lets try and make sure the situation gets resolved in an integrated manner. All of us on site and all hands on deck."
3) Cash injections into projects. What are we talking about?
"Millions. What has been raised in the media has been R450m (for Nooitgedacht low level water scheme). In actual fact the requirement is under R100m that is required to top up what has already been raised. From our side we have already secured an amount of R120m that we can immediately say is going to be injected into the Nooitgedacht Scheme. It was also in my budget speech, but the thing is that money is not the solution, how we spend it and how we ensure that we have plans to consume that money is more critical for us."
