This, as the Minister for Water, Sanitation and Human Settlements, Lindiwe Sisulu, is expected to brief the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on the progress made by the department since the coronavirus outbreak. 

Sisulu had previously committed to ensure water provision for all areas that have been battling with water and has, together with Rand Water as an implementing agent, started supplying water tankers to various provinces. Following the Qwaqwa protests earlier this year, Sisulu committed R200 million and 5 000 water tanks to Qwaqwa to redress the water crisis. The town made national headlines when residents brought the town to a standstill following the death of an eight-year-old girl Mosa Mbele who drowned while fetching water from a river in the area. 

In addition to the reopening of schools and phasing in of more grades, the ongoing water crisis in the Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality is among some of the key challenges expected to be addressed by Sisulu when she gives a progress report on Tuesday.

OFM News previously reported that the department has vowed to supply more water tanks to Maluti-A-Phofung after it confirmed that the 5 000 water tanks have not yet been delivered. The department confirmed that 2 000 water tanks were ordered out of the 5 000 and confirms that as at March the 23rd, only 261 of the planned 2 000 water tanks had been delivered to Qwaqwa. 

The department has in a written reply to the DA promised to ensure that all 5 000 tanks get delivered in due time and that long term projects to ensure water supply, soon reach completion.  

OFM News