Water and Sanitation Minister Pemi Majodina has reaffirmed the government's commitment to restoring reliable sanitation services in Matzhabeng Local Municipality following the handing over of 22 refurbished waste water infrastructure projects.
The upgrades include the modernized Thabong waste water treatment works and several pump stations at Welkom and Odendaalsaras.
The initiative signals a coordinated effort to strengthen municipal infrastructure and tackle persistent service-delivery failures while improving environmental and public-health outcomes for local communities in the long term.
Majodina was joined by Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Sitlaholo, as well as Deputy Minister of the Presidency Seiso Mohai, responsible for monitoring and evaluation. Also present were the Free State MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements Saki Mokoena; Lejweleputswa District Executive Mayor Veronica Ntakumbana, and Matzhabeng Executive Mayor Thandxolo Khalifa.
Waste Water System Recovery
The renewal program follows a ministerial intervention aimed at reversing the decline of waste water systems leading to massive sewer leakage, environmental degradation and pollution of water resources.
Over the years, Matzhabeng has faced serious sanitation challenges due to chronic poor maintenance and vandalism of infrastructure.
At the peak of the crisis, nine of the municipality's 11 waste water treatment works, 42 pump stations and more than 400 km of bulk sewer network were either inoperable or blocked. This is resulting in frequent sewage overflows, affecting major cities including Welkom, Virginia, Ellenridge, Ventersburg, Odendaalsruis and Heinemann.
In response, the Department of Water and Sanitation issued a directive in 2022 and committed R4.2bn over five years through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant to rehabilitate the system. Its implementing agent, Vaal Central Water, was tasked with executing the renovation and upgrading programme.
To date, R1.2bn has been spent on the project, with overall progress reaching 46%. This intervention is being implemented simultaneously with the Municipal Rehabilitation Project of the Internal Sewer Reticulation System.
Speaking at the handover, Majodina said the project represents a major step towards restoring the dignity of the people of Matzhabeng, especially women and girls.
“Today's handover is not a display of engineering pieces, but a reaffirmation and restoration of dignity, responsibility to the environment and the protection of our water resources,” Majodina said.
He stressed the importance of the event taking place during Human Rights Month and National Water Month and stressed that access to water and sanitation remains a fundamental right.
Majodina also called on communities to protect the infrastructure and stressed that its long-term success depends on public support.
“These assets belong to the people. It is a collective responsibility and a social compact between government and all sectors of society to ensure that public services actually serve us,” he said.
Reiterating this sentiment, Mohai warned against vandalism and sabotage of infrastructure, while announcing plans to strengthen security measures through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.
“We have already asked the National Planning Commission to undertake the important work of ensuring that the work of government is protected and that our communities become centers where services are delivered. We cannot do this because the government invests in infrastructure projects that cost billions but are mismanaged and manipulated by syndicates that squander it,” Mohai said.
restore service confidence
MEC Mokoena acknowledged the ministerial intervention in making a massive impact on sanitation services in the municipality.
Mokoena said, “We are quite pleased that the waste water treatment plant has been restarted, and it will do its job of providing efficient treatment of raw sewage. As we are building new settlements, we need these refurbished waste water facilities which will ensure that we no longer see sewers constantly flowing onto the streets or into people's homes.”
Khalifa said the project has already started to restore confidence between residents and investors.
Khalifa said, “We have seen not only a commitment from both the national and provincial governments, but also a huge investment to ensure this rehabilitation of the infrastructure works, and already, we can see improvements in solving the problem of sewer leakage in our communities. This intervention will help prove the confidence of investors in our municipality.”
He also urged residents to pay for municipal services to ensure sustainability, especially in meeting the obligations of utilities such as Eskom.
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