Pretoria - The right to water is now a reality for the community of Jozini Local Municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal.
The more than 30-year-old dam, which has been a single-purpose dam for the best part of its life, is now being turned into a multi-purpose dam that will not just carry water through the village, but to far away destinations within the surrounding communities who had previously no access to fresh water.
The project, named the Pongolapoort Bulk Water Supply, is in Phase 1A of a larger project. It will supply potable water assisted by the installation of bulk water and reticulation networks to 134 864 people within 16 200 households.
The project was unveiled by Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, together with KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu, on Friday.
Speaking at the event, Minister Mokonyane said the project is part of government’s demonstration to bring services to the people.
Minister Mokonyane said Phase 1A is part of the steps that will finally ensure that the UMkhanyakude District Municipality, but more especially the Jozini Local Municipality, receives universal coverage.
The Minister indicated that the water tankers currently in use in the areas not yet receiving coverage will continue this service, ensuring that no one is ever without this essential service.
“It happens during Women’s Month, even as we celebrate sixty years of the life of the Women’s Charter, we should always be conscious of the fact that women have always been oppressed, oppressed further than the normal oppression by decree; oppressed as they have not always been equal,” Minister Mokonyane said.
She said the delivery of water services to communities can and should be equated to women achieving freedom from such inequality and oppression.
For his part, Premier Mchunu said the project is part of government’s non-discriminatory development.
“We develop both the urban and rural areas. All this work must be viewed as part of a process,” Premier Mchunu said.
The total project would cost R2.4 billion according to 2009 projections.
The bulk component, about R700 million, is funded through the department’s Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) programme.
To date an amount of R368 million has been spent on the project, with R330 million allocated for this financial year.
The project has also brought job opportunities to the community.
By the end of the 2013/14 financial year, a total of 470 job opportunities had been created. – SAnews.gov.za
