Work on the much-awaited Sedibeng Water Treatment Plant project will begin soon after Water and Sanitation Minister Gugile Nkwinti signed an agreement with the Gauteng government paving the way for the project.
The project had experienced delays mostly due to community protests and demands for employment and business opportunities for locals.
There was also a budget shortfall that delayed the completion of module six of the project.
The meeting between Nkwinti and Gauteng government officials also resolved that the community, through its Steering Committee, will be consulted on the possibility of jobs and other economic opportunities for residents of Emfuleni and surrounding areas.
This is the second meeting in as many weeks, following the intervention of Minister Nkwinti and who has been seized with finding a lasting solution to complete the project.
In a new plan unveiled on Saturday, Minister Nkwinti’s Department made available a budget for the conclusion of module six, that will be completed early next year and this will allow for module seven to kick in.
The Department of Water and Sanitation is also processing payments in favour of service providers who are still owed money for work undertaken thus far.
The meeting also agreed that detailed design work for the next module by Rand Water will resume so that when the budget is available, it should be all systems go as planning was undertaken in the past two years. – SAnews.gov.za
