Staff Reporter
The ANC Study Group on Water and Sanitation has commended the efforts of the Minister and Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation for addressing water scarcity and quality concerns in Hammanskraal.
Last week, Water and Sanitation Minister Majodina, accompanied by Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlholo, Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Jacob Mamabolo, and acting executive mayor of Tshwane, Eugene Modise, visited Hammanskraal on Saturday, 16 November 2024.
The delegation conducted a physical inspection of the completed Phase 1 of the Klipdrift Package Plant, which is set to provide 12.5 million liters of water daily to local communities.
“We are encouraged by the steps taken to refurbish and upgrade Hammanskraal’s sanitation infrastructure to accommodate population growth and future development. Water is not only vital for life but also a fundamental driver of economic growth and development,” said Sello Dithebe, Whip of the ANC Study Group on Water and Sanitation.
He added, “Without water, which powers industrial activity and economic progress, asset accumulation by households and businesses becomes impossible. Water is essential for socio-economic activity and a sense of well-being.”
The ANC Study Group has also urged the Hammanskraal community to collaborate with the City of Tshwane to address water losses by repairing leaks in homes, businesses, and the city’s internal reticulation network while preventing encroachments on Rand Water’s pipeline.
The Department of Water and Sanitation allocated R758 million last year to upgrade the Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant, which produces 40 megalitres per day, to address water supply and quality issues in Hammanskraal.
The project includes constructing a package plant to integrate additional water into the existing bulk water infrastructure.
Magalies Water, the implementing agent and manager of the treatment plant, is overseeing the project in four phases.
The recently completed phase adds 12.5 megalitres of potable water to the bulk supply system.
Once all four phases are complete, the facility will contribute an additional 50 million liters of treated water to the current 42-million-liter capacity, significantly boosting water supply to Hammanskraal.
Each of the four modules will provide 12.5 million liters per day.
The first module is already supplying water to Marokolong, Ramotse, Kekana Gardens, Kudube Unit 9, Babelegi Industria, as well as parts of Mandela Village and Bridgeview informal settlement.
“We want to confirm to you that Module 1 is complete. We can confirm that our water is ready to be pumped. However, when dealing with water, you must do all due diligence so that by the time the water comes out in people’s, homes it is clean and drinkable. Together with
Magalies and the City of Tshwane, we are conducting necessary due diligence,” said Majodina during her visit to Hammanskraal.
“We have not reneged, we have done what we were supposed to do, and we will continue to do what is needed. We are committed to giving the community of Hammanskraal quality, drinkable water. We do not want to regret anything by rushing out and giving water, we want to ensure that there is no doubt in its quality, which has been one of the biggest concerns in this area.”
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