The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), led by Minister Pemmy Majodina and Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, together with Rand Water, have handed over some 150 completed low-flush sanitation systems at the Zenzele and OR Tambo townships in the Rand West Municipality, Gauteng.
On its social media pages, Rand Water explained that the municipality faces continuous sanitation and drainage challenges including “overflowing sewage, blocked street drains and unmaintained waste infrastructure”.
“A total of 430 systems have been constructed and installed in [the municipality] since 2023/2024 to date. Today’s handover of completed low-flush household sanitation systems aims to provide immediate relief to communities experiencing sanitation shortages.
“About 300 women-headed households have benefited from the project over the past three years. The project has also created 200 temporary jobs and supported four local SMMEs [small, medium and micro enterprises],” the water utility explained on Monday.
READ | Water and Sanitation Minister to hand over sanitation systems
The Minister and Deputy Minister also handed over a Decentralised Water Supply System at Lukhanyo Secondary School.
“With a leaner population of 1544, the school has experienced persistent interruptions through the municipal water supply, adversely affecting functionality of ablution facilities, resulting in unhygienic conditions, disrupting teaching and learning.
“Through the Rand Water Foundation’s intervention, the school now has reliable and consistent water supply. The supply system comprises of a final depth of 55 metres and a yield of 6500 litres per hour, two 5000-litre water storage tanks and water filtration units.
“In addition, two communal taps have been installed, one supplying the surrounding community and the other supplying the school,” Rand Water stated. – SAnews.gov.za
