NEWS
Communities in Limpopo urged to use water sparingly
April 4, 2013
36 OBSERVER polokwane
ove every drop of it! Water is a hidden service. We watch the rain pour down and open our taps and then wonder why we should pay for water… there just seems to be so much of it! What we don’t realise is that the water in our taps requires pipelines, pumping stations, pipes and massive infrastructure and that’s what we pay for. World Water Day is celebrated on 22 March and South Africa’s own Water Week falls in the same month. The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Edna Molewa visited
Mutale in the Vhembe District towards the end of March for the opening of a water reticulation plant. During her visit, Molewa stressed that all South Africans must use water sparingly and issued an urgent reminder of the value of this one essential element that unites all living beings. A meeting between Molewa and Limpopo delegates was held towards the end of last year to come up with a comprehensive proposal on issues affecting water shortages in the province, especially in the Sekhukhune and Vhembe districts. She then announced that R570 billion will be invested across South Africa’s water value chain in the next ten years
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to replace the ageing water infrastructure. This vast funding will most probably result in substantial water tariff price hikes, with experts predicting that water costs could rise by 45% over the next two years. Possible solutions to the water crisis in Limpopo include the harvesting of rainwater and storing therof in water tanks. According to a study published in 2008, it is much cheaper to install rainwater tanks than to build dams. Investing in a rainwater harvesting tank is one manner in which homeowners can take the edge of the rising water tariffs, according to a leading rainwater tank manufacturer. Rainwater is a free source of water and rainwater harvesting reduces the pressure on existing water infrastructure and the reliance on water storage dams. The Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) in partnership with the Department of Water Affairs and National Treasury are busy with interaction to look at options for bulk water pipelines from the Nandoni, Flag Boshielo and Glen Alpine dams to provide water for their communities. The CDM is well aware of the future challenges for the provision of a reliable water supply and their primary obligation is as a Water Service Authority, the Executive Mayor of CDM, Cllr Lawrence Mapoulo said at a media briefing last Wednesday. Regarding the need for water to ensure the continuation of platinum mining operations in the Sekhukhune district of Limpopo, the Lebalelo Water User Association (LWUA) plays an important role in implementing a water-supply
strategy for the foreseeable future. LWUA has a close working relationship with Anglo American Platinum Limited and have designed water-supply scenarios for 2018 onwards. The threat of water scarcity is very real for Anglo Platinum as they require water to mine and process ore, and to refine base and precious metals. The company is fully aware if access to water resources is restricted and if they have a negative impact on water resources, then their production is directly affected. To ensure the long-term security of water availability for their mining operations and surrounding communities, Anglo Platinum and LWUA have developed a bulk water strategy and infrastructure plan, to protect, manage and maintain the water supply. This approach entails continually striving to manage water usage in order not to compete with other sectors for the same water resource. Over time, this approach should prevent material impacts on the environment, downstream ecosystems and food security. PHOTO: WARREN BLUNT
Executive Mayor of Capricorn District Municipality, Cllr Lawrence Mapoulo speaks about the need for bulk water pipelines to meet the future water demands of the district.
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Polokwane-weldoeners is tops
Mariëtte Snyder My onlangse onderhoud met ‘n man wat so desperaat is om ‘n skenkernier te kry om te bly leef dat hy amper enige iets in ruil daarvoor sal doen, het my geleer om met nuwe oë na die mense om my te kyk. Dit is nie maklik om te erken nie, maar ek is deel van die wat vergeet het om dankie te sê. Ons soek altyd na ‘n maermaakkuur, moet ‘n nuwe voertuig ry of soek desperaat na ‘n lewensmaat. Maar wat as jy desperaat is om te leef sodat jy jou kleinkinders kan ken, jou lewensmaat se hand op die ouetehuis se stoep kan vashou of na jou 50ste skoolreünie kan gaan. My kind se ‘dankie Ma’ wys haar kinderlike dankbaarheid vir alles wat jy in haar hand stop maar sy word ook geleer om dankbaar te wees vir dit wat jy nie noodwendig kan sien nie. Ek hoop sy en ons almal is en bly dankbaar vir ons gesondheid en die voorreg om te leef. Of dankbaar om ten spyte van struikelblokke mense in ons lewens te hê wat omgee. Ek is vandag dankbaar vir die talle inwoners wat op die artikel in Polokwane Observer oor mnr Nico Hurter se noodkreet vir ‘n nierskenker reageer het. Sy telefoon het van vroegoggend gelui en wildvreemdes het ‘n nier aangebied. As hulle dan nie geskikte skenkers
is nie, sal hulle help om iemand te vind het hulle gesê. Mense is bereid om ‘n liggaamsdeel aan ‘n onbekende persoon te gee om Hurter ‘n langer lewe te gee. Volgens sy vrou, Elizabeth, sou hulle in een dag nege niere beskikbaar gehad het as die bloedgroep ooreengestem het. Dit wil gedoen wees, Polokwane! Baie mense sê Polokwane is nie ‘n lekker stad om in te bly nie en meen inwoners kan onaangenaam en selfgesentreerd wees. Daar is niks om oor naweke te doen nie en die kinders gebruik dwelms en drink omdat daar min of geen vermaak is nie. Dít is in my oë nie waar nie. Daar is baie mense wat hard werk om vermaak na die stad te bring. Naweek na naweek hou kerke basaars en word konserte ten bate van minderbevoorregtes en hulpbehoewendes aangebied. Welsynsorganisasies bied inisiatiewe aan. Kom jy by meeste van dié byeenkomste, staan ‘n bekende sanger en sing vir ‘n handjievol mense. As inwoners net die byeenkomste ondersteun, sal meer mense die vrymoedigheid hê om vermaak te reël. Ondersteun diegene wat moeite doen om Limpopo se hart aan die klop te hou en trek jou hardloopskoene aan vir liefdadigheid. As die gemeenskap saamstaan kan Polokwane ‘n heerlike plek wees om jou kinders in groot te maak en ‘n verskil te maak.
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