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A meeting in Thohoyandou between AfriForum and Vhembe District Municipality on 22 January resulted in a new solution-driven action plan. From left to right are Vhembe's municipal manager, Mr Masala Makumule, Mr Wally Schultz (chairperson of AfriForum Louis Trichardt), Mr Walter Madimutsa (VDM technical services manager) and Mr Duncan Campbell (AfriForum deputy chairperson). Photo supplied.

VDM accepts AfriForum’s water action plan

 

AfriForum’s action plan for supplying water to Makhado (Louis Trichardt) is being implemented and hopes are high that a consistent water flow will become a reality.

The action plan recognizes the fact that water shortages can often be attributed to the inevitable leaks on the ageing Albasini pipeline, which supplies water to the majority of residents, as well as to the constantly vandalized 14 boreholes southwest of town which supply the older part of town.

The Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) agreed to drill new boreholes near the Mowkop reservoir and the Bergh Street reservoir. “AfriForum has insisted that an alternative water supply be found via the drilling of new boreholes close to each reservoir, and the linking of existing boreholes that are in close proximity to a reservoir,” local AfriForum chairperson Wally Schultz said last week.

The reasoning is obvious. Sources to augment the water supply in the case of a shutdown of the Albasini plant for repairs are urgently needed. “We already know that the Albasini pipeline will develop new leaks on a predictably regular basis. When this does happen, the Albasini pump system gets shut down to facilitate repairs. Each time this happens, depending on the severity of the leak, shutdowns have sometimes lasted up to seven days at a time,” Schultz said. He had called an urgent summit with VDM on 22 January. At the summit held in Thohoyandou, Vhembe’s municipal manager, Mr Masala Makumule, and their technical services manager, Mr Walter Madimutsa, along with their management team accepted the AfriForum action plan.

VDM has appointed Muteo Consulting of Mr Hangwani Makwarela as consulting engineers to oversee the projects. Workers are currently laying the pipeline from the strong De la Rey Street borehole to link it directly to the Bergh Street reservoir. The linking of this borehole should bring relief to the central business district and surrounding residential areas. “Three new boreholes are being drilled around Mowkop, according to the AfriForum action plan, to bring relief to ‘new town’ and surrounds,” says Schultz.

AfriForum has demanded the urgent renovation of all 14 boreholes that have been dysfunctional for years. Vhembe accepted this demand and contractors are renovating and replacing pumps, which will bring relief to these desperate residents. Another demand is the much-needed improving of the security situation at all water infrastructure under Vhembe’s management.

Makumule confirmed this week that a threefold plan for security was ensuing. “The security guards have been appointed and will be employed as from 1 February. A request for telemetric security had been given to the supply-chain manager to revive the cell phone security system that was used successfully before and, on top of that, concrete block houses will be installed at the boreholes. The contractor is already busy at the old boreholes. Four of these boreholes are already working,” Makumule said.

“AfriForum is pleased to see Vhembe accepting and implementing our solution-driven action plan. When completed, we will finally see a permanent end to this drawn-out water crisis saga, due to an effective policy of constructive engagement,” Schultz said.

The MM gave a realistic summary by saying, “We are improving on the water infrastructure but still have operational problems.”

 

Date:07 February 2014

By: Linda van der Westhuizen

Linda van der Westhuizen has been with Zoutnet since 2001. She has a heart for God, people and their stories. Linda believes that every person is unique and has a special story to tell. It follows logically that human interest stories is her speciality. Linda finds working with people and their leaders in the economic, educational, spiritual and political arena very rewarding. “I have a special interest in what God is doing in our town, province and nation and what He wants us to become,” says Linda.

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