Pretoria – The Jericho water plan is expected to restore water to 19 villages that fall under the Madibeng Local Municipality.
The Jericho Water and Sanitation Forum in Madibeng, North West, will this week inform local residents about the details of a plan to provide drinking water to the water-scarce village.
The Jericho plan is part of a drive by the Department of Water and Sanitation and North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlements.
Majakaneng was the first village to benefit from the department’s plan which was implemented in March 2015. About 30 000 villagers have benefitted from the multimillion water project which is being implemented by Magalies Water.
During a public meeting held with local residents at the weekend, the forum announced that a workforce of 300 people had been recruited from the local community to work in various components of the project.
The proposed Jericho plan will be executed in five phases - these include the initiation and planning scheduled for completion in August 2015, design which is scheduled for completion in September 2015, implementation which will be rolled out between October – March 2016, commissioning scheduled for March 2016.
The project is expected to be handed over in March 2016 after completion.
The Department of Water and Sanitation said part of the work to be done in Jericho includes the optimization of existing boreholes that are not working, equipping of two new boreholes, refurbishment and laying of a supply line from boreholes to the reservoir that will include valves and manholes.
“This will involve repairing a reservoir, installation of water meters and telemetry, as well as water treatment with chemicals,” the department explained.
Local Chief JT Mamogale has thanked the government for including the village in its plan.
SADC Water Week
Meanwhile, the South African Development Community (SADC) in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation, the South African Water Research Commission and the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa will this week host the SADC Water Week-South Africa.
The event forms part of the work of the SADC directorate of Infrastructure and Services, which provides a platform for its member countries to address water related issues and challenges to ensure that water in Southern Africa becomes a sustainable resource through the co-ordinated management, protection and equitable use of its shared water courses.
The department highlighted that the main aim of this venture is to create a platform for country focused awareness raising of the SADC regional water programme and River Basin Organisations’ initiatives towards the goal of improving water resources management and development.
“More importantly, the workshop seeks to harmonise national and local water management strategies with SADC regional strategies for better water resources management and development.”
The three-day event will be held from 29-31 July 2015 at Protea Hotel, in Centurion.
The workshop will focus on engaging with news reporters across various media houses to give them an opportunity to connect with experts and policy makers in the South African and regional water sector, to give them insight on issues of water governance and integrated water resources management and development.
“This exercise is meant to assist the journalist as they follow the water issues in the country and region, to ensure that as they disseminate the information gathered for their consumers,” the department said.
Youth participation in water security
Another issue to take centre stage during the event will be the participation of youth in ensuring the region’s water security through a National Youth Forum Information note.
During this session, representatives from several youth networks and organisations in water, environment and sanitation related sectors will meet to develop a national action plan for mainstreaming youth in these sectors and inform a way forward with regard to their involvement at national and regional level.
Other discussions will include issues of cooperation in trans-boundary water resources management development within and beyond the SADC region and also, water financing for management and development resource as well as building local indigenous practices to manage climate change. – SAnews.gov.za
