Image: Gert Sibande District Municipality Executive Mayor Walter Mngomezulu with Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo at the opening of the Gert Sibande Local House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders on 28 July. | GSDMFacebook
Gert Sibande District Municipality Executive Mayor Walter Mngomezulu outlined progress on several water infrastructure projects during his address at the official opening of the Gert Sibande Local House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders on Tuesday, 28 July.
The gathering focused on strengthening cooperation between government and traditional leadership to accelerate development across the district. Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo was among the officials who attended the meeting.
Among the key highlights of the mayoral address were updates on water treatment facilities, boreholes and proposed dam projects across the district.
Mngomezulu said the Methula Water Treatment Works in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality had been upgraded from a river abstraction scheme into a modern facility capable of producing five megalitres of treated water per day. The project improved water quality for Fernie and surrounding communities, created approximately 45 local jobs and supported eight local small, medium and micro enterprises.
The eMpuluzi Water Treatment Works was also expanded from a capacity of 2.5 megalitres to 10 megalitres per day. According to Mngomezulu, the project improved both the quantity and quality of water supplied to surrounding communities while creating more than 50 employment opportunities and supporting local contractors.
The municipality has also drilled, equipped and handed over boreholes at Entombe ngaphansi, within the kwaMadabukela Traditional Council area in Mkhondo. A dam is currently under construction in Amsterdam and is expected to supply communities under the Ogenyaneni, Esandleni and kwaDukemini traditional councils.
Mngomezulu further announced that a service provider had been appointed to conduct an environmental impact study for the proposed Vygeboom Dam following a request from the Embhuleni Traditional Council. He said partnerships between government and traditional leaders remained important in addressing water challenges and advancing development throughout the district.