President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially unveiled the Klipdrift 50-megalitre per day Package Water Treatment Plant in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, to improve water security and ensure sustainable access to safe drinking water for communities in the area.
The commissioning of the treatment plant on Saturday formed part of the Department of Water and Sanitation's Mandela Day programme, which was aimed at accelerating water infrastructure development and expanding access to clean drinking water in underserved communities.
The event also marked the national handover of 67 decentralised groundwater supply schemes across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, as part of Mandela Day commemorations and broader Mandela Month service delivery initiatives.
Addressing residents and stakeholders, President Ramaphosa commended the completion of the new treatment plant, saying it demonstrates government's commitment to responding to the needs of communities through collaborative service delivery.
"I applaud the Minister of Water and Sanitation, the Gauteng Premier, and all who have worked to ensure that we have a package plant. This is the first time I have heard of a package plant that delivers 50 million litres a day. This is phenomenal. This is a great achievement for our government. This is how we respond to our people's needs," President Ramaphosa said.
President Ramaphosa recalled visiting Hammanskraal when the community was facing a severe water crisis and said government had since elevated water security to one of its top priorities.
He said a dedicated national water committee, comprising government, business, organised labour and other stakeholders, had been established to accelerate interventions and improve water service delivery across the country.
"This is one committee that is really working with all the key stakeholders. This is how we do things in our country – we collaborate. This project is the result of collaboration between national, provincial and local government," the President said.
While welcoming the completion of the treatment plant, the President stressed that the next priority is ensuring treated water reaches households.
He called on the City of Tshwane to accelerate the rehabilitation of the local reticulation network and provide clear timeframes for restoring water to homes.
"We are now going to go on with the reticulation of water into the taps and into the homes of our people. I want a clear timeframe of when this is going to happen.
“This must happen within a short space of time. We don't want the people of Hammanskraal to wait for years before water flows into the taps of their own homes," President Ramaphosa said.
The President said unveiling the facility on Nelson Mandela International Day reflected government's commitment to honouring Madiba's legacy through practical action that improves people's lives.
He acknowledged that while significant progress had been made, more work remained to ensure communities across South Africa have access to reliable basic services.
Quoting Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, Ramaphosa said the completion of the plant should serve as motivation to intensify service delivery efforts.
"Nelson Mandela reminded us that after climbing one hill, there are always many more hills to climb. That is precisely the message for us today. This is a great achievement, but much more still needs to be done to address the needs of our people," the President said.
and forms part of government's broader programme to improve water security and ensure sustainable access to safe drinking water for communities across the country.
Strong intergovernmental relations key to delivering services
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi emphasised the importance of strong intergovernmental relations in addressing water challenges and delivering critical infrastructure.
Lesufi highlighted the close working relationship between the Gauteng Province and the Department of Water and Sanitation, saying that collaboration across all spheres of government is key to delivering services to communities.
"We are excited that the commitment our President made is being fulfilled today. Where there was no water, water is flowing now. Where there were challenges, we have concluded and resolved all those challenges," the Premier said. – SAnews.gov.za
