ERIC MATOME KGOMO
MIDDLEBURG: To raise the awareness about the importance of water conservation in the communities, Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM) has recently joined the bandwagon of National Water Week campaigns celebrated in the month of March.
According to the local municipality, the campaign have a focus on creating awareness about the value of water within the communities through all possible means while adhering to the Covid-19 protocols. Held under the theme: ‘Valuing water’, Water Week campaign was declared by the United Nations in 1993, with a focus on the importance of fresh water and to raise awareness of the billions people living without access to clean and safe water.
During the awareness, led by Executive Mayor Diphala Motsepe, the municipality visited all its water and sanitation projects for three days, kick starting the campaign with inspection and visit to Middelburg and Mhluzi Water and Sanitation Projects in Boskrans Waste Water Treatment Plant, where replacement of old water pipes has been effected, including in Graspan Reservoir. The municipality proceeded to visit Hendrina and Kwazamokuhle Water and Sanitation Projects where the entourage paid homage to Kwazamokuhle bulk waterline and reservoirs. The municipality inspected the Rural Areas and Agri Villages projects at the construction of elevated water tank in Somaphepha. “The National Water Week comes at an opportune time, when the country and the globe is still faced by the deadly coronavirus pandemic. This pandemic has asked serious questions about the state of water infrastructure in many countries, including South Africa,” said STLM Municipal Manager Adv. Bheki Khenisa. He said STLM National Water Week campaign is co-convened with the World Health Organization (WHO), to encourage people to regularly wash hands which is a most effective way that plays a major role in the fight and reduction of the Covid-19 pandemic. Khenisa said the inspections of the projects was part of the ongoing oversight policy that both the political office headed by the Executive Mayor Cllr Diphala Joseph Motsepe, MMC’s and the administration entourage headed by himself, educated communities on water and sanitation prescripts. “At the same time we showcased to the community the quality water services that have been delivered in their respective areas. The municipality is alive to challenges of aged infrastructure and the low water pressure in Mhluzi Ext 5, 6, 7 and Middelburg Ext 23,” he said. According to Khenisa, in addressing these challenges, replacement of old asbestos water pipes with PVC pipes and the construction of an elevated water tank is currently well underway. “Water Week could not have come at the better time than this in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality. The Covid-19 outbreak need stable water supply for the communities to wash their hands regularly and clean their environment. The municipality has lived up to expectations in the fight against Covid-19 in their continued efficiency on quality water provision for communities to conform to the main protocol against Covid-19 in washing their hands with clean water for 20 seconds,” he said.
