The municipality has received the funds after submitting a R2.8bn business plan to National Treasury for the refurbishment and upgrading of its existing sewer infrastructure, said Sol Plaatje municipality executive mayor, Martha Bartlett.

“The plan includes the construction of a new 40 ML wastewater treatment plant, which is expected to meet the municipality’s sewage treatment needs for the next 30 years.”

Bartlett said the municipality is in critical distress, with wastewater treatment works operating beyond their designed capacity, while sewer pump stations and conveyance pipelines continue to break down repeatedly.

“This situation has resulted in frequent spillages into environmentally sensitive areas, including Kamfers Dam, and poses a severe constraint on the municipality’s ability to support human settlement development and economic expansion.”

Northern Cape premier Dr Zamani Saul said water shutdowns have been significantly reduced and that the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) water project is progressing well. He added the sanitation programme is intended to address ongoing sewage spillage challenges.

Sol Plaatje municipality executive mayor, Martha Bartlett. Photo: Facebook

According to Bartlett, the sanitation intervention is a dedicated phase of the integrated programme, aimed at restoring functionality, building resilience, and aligning sanitation capacity with the bulk water security interventions already underway.

Bartlett said the additional R608m comes on top of the R2.5bn already allocated to the municipality for sewer infrastructure, as it continues to grapple with significant sanitation challenges.

“We are very happy with this initiative. It is a very good development for us, although it is not enough, as we still need a lot of money. However, with the funding we have received, we will be able to do better in Sol Plaatje.”

Bartlett said the municipality will not be able to complete the initial scope of work outlined in its business plan for the BFI sanitation programme, as only R608m of the R2.8bn requested has been approved.

“The Sol Plaatje sanitation project will result in increased financial spending in the local economy, job creation and improved access to reliable sanitation services. The revenue generated from the project will also contribute significantly to growing the municipality’s revenue base.”

OFM News/Siyakholwa Mbatyazwa sm

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