OVERVIEW
Water Nearly R2-billion is to be spent on bulk water and sanitation.
T
he Provincial Government of Mpumalanga is prioritising the provision of water infrastructure projects. The Premier reported in 2018 that the bulk of the R1.8-billion Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) will be spent on 149 water supply and sanitation projects. A joint project with Eskom related to rain water harvesting will also create jobs. The Siyasebenza Job Creation Initiative is intended to create 900 jobs in the Nkangala District Municipality. A total of 327 water infrastructure projects benefiting 350 259 households have been completed, with a further 165 sanitation projects (benefiting 285 065 households) also finalised. To assist municipal water provision, 582 boreholes have been drilled by the provincial authorities. A bulk water supply system connecting villages within the Bushbuckridge area such as Hluvukani, Zoeknog and Tsakani has been completed. The Blyde River Poort Dam (pictured above) supplies water for irrigation and industry at Phalaborwa. Many municipalities in Mpumalanga have struggled to provide water for their citizens. Rand Water was asked to step in and supply clean water in the Bushbuckridge area. This was followed by the national government disbanding the Bushbuckridge Water Board and Rand MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2018/19
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SECTOR INSIGHT Rain harvesting is at the centre of a job-creation initiative. Water taking over its operations. The area of supply covers Bushbuckridge and Mbombela (Ehlanzeni District Municipality) which has 15 water treatment works, with a capacity of 245mℓ/day. Water is supplied to 1.5-million people in the areas. The water treatment works include three large works (Inyaka, Hoxani and Kanyamazane) and several smaller treatment works (Thulamahashe, Acornhoek and Edinburgh) supply local communities with drinking water.