Hartbeespoort Real Estate - Minister Steps Into Sewage Crisis

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Minister Steps Into Sewage Crisis

This is a great article that we found on the Kormorant website, discussing the latest floods in the Hartbeespoort area.

“Sewage spills in Hartbeespoort made headlines countrywide last week when three pump stations stopped working due to broken pumps, cable theft and lack of maintenance.
Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa was called upon to intervene and together with a task team, including Madibeng mayor, Sophie Molokoane Machika, visited the various stations on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

At times the minister had to wade through sewage outside the sewage pump stations.

Power cables were stolen at the Venice station, two pumps were broken at the Xanadu and the Ifafi pump station had problems with a broken pump earlier on. After visiting the pump stations Molewa said it was clear that there was a lack of maintenance and a maintenance plan had to be worked on urgently. 

“As soon as there is spillage into water resources, it becomes the department of water affairs’ problem and I expect the department of local government to also get involved in addressing the serious pollution,” she said.

After visiting the stations and talking to technical advisors, Molewa said she expects Madibeng municipality to have all the pump stations in the area in perfect working order in six months. “The municipality currently does not have the necessary skilled people to maintain these structures, but I was informed that skilled workers are currently being employed.”

Madibeng mayor Cllr Machika said the municipality has an ailing infrastructure. “We have put R1.5 million rand aside to employ retired engineers who offered their services.”

A task team, made up of the Madibeng municipality, department of water affairs and Magalies Water, met in Hartbees-poort on Monday and have been tasked to draw an emergency action plan to address wastewater management challenges in the area, specifically looking at issues pertaining to emergency res- ponses, medium term intervention and a long term plan.  

“The Municipality is calling on all stakeholders to work with each other in dealing with these challenges as opposed to grand standing and working against each other. We have a collective responsibility as stakeholders in the water sector to collaborate and bring quality services to the people of South Africa.”

Xanadu is currently still operating with an emergency pump while the municipality awaits the delivery of the two new pumps.

“The department of water affairs ordered a service provider to replace the stolen cables and install an emergency pump. The municipality is confidant that the pump station is now back to normal operation and security has been deployed at the Xanadu pump station,” said Madibeng spokesman, Tumelo Tshabalala.”

Written by Kormorant
This article was found on the Kormorant website
http://www.kormorant.co.za/Local%20Government/2011/01Jan/sewage.html