Residents in Qwaqwa have consistently been without water for nearly a decade, leading to violent protests that brought Phuthaditjhaba and surrounding areas to a standstill. Sedibeng Water was roped in to assist with the refurbishments at the treatment plant, as they are also doing at Ngwathe Local Municipality. Water levels at the Fika Patso Dam, which reportedly provides 80% of the residents in Qwaqwa with water, is now at 41% capacity.

The Department of Water and Sanitation reveals the opening of the facility took place at Lejwaneng Village on Tuesday and was attended by a “few delegated senior representatives from the local, provincial and national spheres of government and stakeholders”. Ntombela reportedly urged residents to look after the facility and ensure and report any leakages to officials.

As already mentioned, Sedibeng Water is also in the process of assisting Ngwathe Local Municipality with infrastructure-related issues at its Parys water treatment plant. Parys is the lesser known casualty of the Vaal Water Crisis, with media coverage on the matter, being dominated by the main culprit in the crisis - Emfuleni Local Municipality in Gauteng.

OFM News