Pretoria - Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has officially handed over the construction site of the Vaal Gamagara Water Scheme, which will ensure the provision of safe and reliable water for residents.
The R18 billion water scheme is being upgraded due to its aging infrastructure, with the aim of meeting current and future water needs for the people of Gamagara Local Municipality in Kathu, Northern Cape, and its surrounding areas.
The original scheme was built more than 40 years ago and it no longer has the capacity to supply sufficient water to satisfy the increased demand brought about by mines, municipalities and agricultural production.
The maximum capacity of the current scheme is 2 500m3/h and the new scheme will be able to supply a peak demand of 5 200m3/h, including future water supply to Botswana.
The system will be upgraded by replacing the existing pipeline with a larger diameter pipeline.
The project is 82 kilometre pipeline long and its first phase will stretch from Roscoe (in Kathu) to Black Rock. Once completed, the scheme will benefit 14 livestock farms, 12 mines, solar parks and the communities of Kathu, Olifantshoek and Hotazel.
Speaking during the handover ceremony on Friday, Minister Mokonyane said she is happy to be finally handing over the site to the community so that the appointed contractors can start doing their work speedily.
She said this project is critical to ensure continued sustainability of iron ore and manganese mining operations between Kathu and Hotazel.
“This is a reflection of the economic significance of the investment we seek to make and are beginning to roll out in this area for social and economic development of our people, country and region,” said Minister Mokonyane.
The roll out of Phase 1 entails the upgrading of pump stations and the water treatment plant at Delportshoop, as well as the construction of a 430 km pipeline from Delportshoop to Black Rock in order to meet the growing demand.
The construction will also include the equipping of three borehole well sites in order to augment water supplied by the Vaal River. The borehole well sites are situated in Danielskuil, Groenwater and Hotazel.
More than 1 500 job opportunities
The project will create more than 1 500 job opportunities and will benefit six municipalities, including Dikgatlong, Kgatelopele, Tsantsabane, Gamagara, Ga-Segonyane and Joel Morolong.
Minister Mokonyane said the development of the pipeline will address a number of socio-economic imperatives for government.
“It is our intention to create economic opportunities during the construction phase of this pipeline for locals and to intensify transformation within the water sector through the consortia appointed to construct the pipeline.
“The construction of this pipeline is a catalyst for the provision of safe and reliable water with a massive social benefit to the surrounding villages identified, which will create the necessary conditions for future investment in agriculture and mining operations. That will be a huge boost to the province economically.
“Furthermore, this reaffirms government’s commitment to developing rural communities, particularly the previously disadvantaged communities, to ensure that they are also the recipients of quality services,” the Minister said.
She also commended the private sector, particularly the mines that came on board and contributed to the funding of the project, and also encouraged the contractors to use local skills to create opportunities for everyone. – SAnews.gov.za
