LATEST UPDATES AND INTERVENTIONS
10 March 2022
SAMWU has stopped all Rand Water operations and maintenance work on the Vaal River Intervention as of the 22nd of February.
Not sure who the winners are here … but one thing for sure is that the people of Emfuleni are the losers by the halting of the intervention by SAMWU.
SAMWU has threatened Rand Water staff and as such Rand Water has had to remove their staff who were here improving the lives of those living in Emfuleni.
All the sewerage blockages and water leaks that Rand Water technicians were addressing - are now being left unattended to.
This is a crime against the people of Emfuleni who do not deserve this - after all the promises and assurances been given that once and for all the sewerage carnage is going to be halted.
Questions to be asked:-
- Why would SAMWU not want Rand Water’s help to capacitate Metsi a Lekoa (the water and sanitation arm of ELM)?
- Are they worried that the work ethic and standards being brought in by Rand Water are making them uncomfortable/showing them up?
- Are they worried that they can’t claim over-time and things like they did before and now the tax payer’s money is being watched more carefully and being used more effectively?
There is a meeting on Friday the 11th March - let’s hope all realise that the tax payer paying their salaries, is who they are damaging.
FOURTH TIME LUCKY!
The Vaal River Intervention has been going on for a long time - the purpose being to bring the bulk wastewater infrastructure within Sedibeng, back to working condition as well as with adequate capacity - so it no longer polluted land and water.
- In 2003-4, this project initially fell under Rand Water and became known as the SRSS (Sedibeng Regional Sewer Scheme).
- In 2018, the Minister of Finance announced that the SANDF would be brought in to undertake the intervention 2018 - 2019.
- In 2019 the project was removed from the SANDF.
- In 2019 the project was given to ERWAT (Ekurhuleni Water Care Company).
- In 2020 the project was removed from ERWAT.
- In July 2021 DWS Minister Sisulu invoked Section 63 of the Water Services Act (108 of 1997).
- 5th October 2021 Rand Water and DWS signed an Implementing Agent agreement for Section 63, and Rand Water officially became the implementing agent for the Intervention.
The Section 63 Directive reads:-
“Directive to Rand Water to be an implementing agent for the Vaal River System Intervention and Section 63 of Water Services act o108 of 1997 intervention which entails taking over the water services function at Emfuleni local municipality to undertake management, operations, and maintenance of the water and sanitation infrastructure, refurbishment, upgrade for the reticulation system and bulk water services infrastructure, water conservation water demand management (WCWDM) and capacitation of Metsi-a-Lekoa.”
This website will work in harmony with Rand Water’s communications - to keep you up to date with the progress of the Intervention that everyone hopes is the one that finally succeeds.
Posted: 10 February 2022
See Progress on Establishment of the Vaal River Catchment Management Agency to Include the Orange Water Management Area. October 2021.
See Progress Report Period ending 31 December 2021
See Progress Report Period ending 24th January 2022
See Progress Report Period ending 4 February 2022