Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, has called on municipalities in the North West province to prioritize water and sanitation infrastructure to ensure sustainable service delivery.
Speaking at the annual SALGA Provincial Members Assembly held at the Sun City Convention Centre, Mahlobo highlighted the urgent need for municipalities to address challenges, including aging infrastructure and illegal water connections, which have contributed to declining water service levels.
Mahlobo was joined by North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Deputy Minister, Seiso Mohai, and North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Oageng Molapisi at the event.
While noting strides made in providing access to clean water over the past three decades, Mahlobo expressed concern over deteriorating performance, with water availability in some areas dropping from 92% to 52%.
“We are now at a point as municipalities to improve water services. We should continue to work together as the different spheres of government to turn the situation around and ensure water efficiency in the province,” Mahlobo said.
Reports such as the Blue Drop, Green Drop, and No Drop assessments revealed issues with water quality and significant losses from infrastructure.
Mahlobo urged municipalities to implement technical interventions, including the flow restrictions and pressure management to regulate supply, replacing and maintaining water pipelines, and addressing the leaks in both public and private water networks.
He also stressed the importance of promoting responsible water consumption among communities and suggested that underperforming municipalities use Section 78 of the National Water Act to collaborate with capable service providers, such as water boards or other entities, while building their internal capacity.
Mahlobo assured stakeholders that the Department of Water and Sanitation does not intend to usurp municipal powers but aims to work collaboratively to improve water efficiency in the province.
Operation Bulela Metsi, a provincial initiative to enhance water supply reliability, continues to play a critical role, though challenges remain.
“We must work together across all spheres of government to turn this situation around,” Mahlobo said.
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