The National Water week commemorated from 2 - 8 March 2009, in Ugu District
Municipality saw the commissioning of two, multi-million rand water schemes,
benefiting the communities of KwaLembe under Vulamehlo Municipality and Nyavini
under Umzumbe Municipality.
Members of the KwaLembe community went home
a happy bunch after mayor Cele handed over the KwaLembe Water Supply Scheme
valued at R30 057 189 on Friday. The water scheme is designed to supply water to
16 360 people within the KwaLembe Tribal Authority benefiting over 600 people
with short-term employment during construction. "The project was done in four
phases with phase one and two dealing with abstraction from Umkomaas River and
treatment works and the extension of power supply to the pump stations and
treatment works." Phase four involved reticulation and the construction of 102
standpipes.
Ms Ntombithini Gumede, who is a mother of three said she
appreciates what Ugu has done for the KwaLembe community. However, the community
would further appreciate it if standpipes would be allocated even closer to
homes as she still has to walk about 30 minutes to fetch water at a nearest
standpipe.
At this very event, Mayor Cele donated R5000 to
KwaMandlakapheli Primary School where the event was held. A jubilant grade 7
pupil, Phumelele Mkhize said she is grateful of the Mayor's gesture and knows
that this money will be utilised accordingly on exercise books among other areas
of concern because sometimes pupils have a shortage of writing material.
In partnership with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF),
Ugu handed over the Nyavini Water Scheme last Tuesday to the community which
cost R7, 2 million. The scope of works for the project includes the construction
of reservoir, installation of pipes and two pump stations.
Mr Bheko
Ngubo, who is in charge of DWAF's water sector support in the Ugu Region urged
the public to conserve water as it is life. Speaking on behalf of the
department, Mr Ngubo also talked about how DWAF has taken a pledge to assist Ugu
bring water services to the people. "We assist the municipality bring services
to the people in terms of water."
This project alone created employment
for 130 people, 67 of which were women. Mayor Cele also mentioned that the
Umzumbe area has other significant projects nearing completion. "Among other
projects in this area, fairly soon, the municipality will hand over a water
project covering Ward 12, 13, 14 and 16. We are currently monitoring the
upgrades that we have recently completed in the area," said Mayor Cele.
He
added that Ugu is confident of a great improvement in the supply of water to
this area. "In addition to this, we have completed 90% of Ward 9 of Umzumbe with
the allocation for VIP toilets." |
