Soos dikwels in die media berig is, het die Lesotho Hooglandtonnel op 1 Oktober 2024 gesluit en sal dit tot 31 Maart 2025 toe bly vir geskeduleerde instandhouding. Hierdie broodnodige instandhouding is van kritieke belang om die integriteit van die sisteem te handhaaf. Die tonnel voer 780 miljoen mᶟ/jaar na die Geïntegreerde Vaalrivierstelsel (IVRS), via die Liebenbergsvleirivier wat verby Tweeling vloei en aansluit by die Wilgerivier, stroomop van die keerwal by Frankfort. Die tydperk van 6 maande wat nodig is om instandhouding uit te voer, is van kardinale belang om enige katastrofiese gebeurtenis wat mag voortspruit uit 'n gebrek aan onderhoud te vermy.
Mafube Besigheidsforum (MBF) is tevrede dat die sluiting behoorlik beplan is en dat die Departement van Water en Sanitasie (DWS) behoorlik en betyds met alle belanghebbendes gekommunikeer het. DWS het uitgebreide konsultasies gehad met geaffekteerde munisipaliteite wat afhanklik is van die onttrekking van water vanuit die IVRS om aan plaaslike gemeenskappe te voorsien. Dit blyk dat die waarskuwings en advies van DWS oor die algemeen nagekom is met een noemenswaardige en voorspelbare uitsondering – Mafube!
DWS het wel befondsing en tegniese advies verskaf, maar Mafube Plaaslike Munisipaliteit (MPM), in hul gewone lakse benadering en weens 'n gebrek aan dringendheid, het nog nie die vereiste werk voltooi nie. Op die DWS-vergadering van 25 September het DWS kommer uitgespreek oor die onttrekkingspunt by Frankfort wat op daardie stadium nog in die tender-evalueringsproses was. Daar is gevra wat die gebeurlikheidsplan is in terme van die onttrekking van water, aangesien daardie projek nie voor die sluiting geïmplementeer sou kon word nie. Die antwoord wat deur 'n verteenwoordiger van MPM aangebied is, was dat daar gemeenskaplike JoJo-tenks is wat aan die gemeenskappe verskaf sou word en watertenkwaens sou gebruik word om daardie tenks te vul. Daar is nie verduidelik waar die water vandaan sou kom, indien nie van die Frankfort-suiweringswerke nie. DWS het vroegydig die munisipaliteit ingelig dat hulle laevlak-onttrekkingspompe in plek moet hê en sodra die kontrakteur aangestel is, moet die laevlak-onttrekkingspompe geprioritiseer word.
By 'n opvolgvergadering wat MBF op Donderdag 17 Oktober bygewoon het, is aangedui dat 'n kontrakteur teen die einde van Oktober op die terrein sou wees. Op hierdie tydstip is dit nog nie duidelik of 'n kontrakteur wel aangestel is nie!
’n Vraag wat dikwels gevra word is of water uit die Sterkfonteindam (wat tans teen 97% kapasiteit is) in die Wilgerivier vrygelaat gaan word. DWS het geantwoord dat dit moontlik is, maar dat dit vermy moet word as gevolg van die hoë verliese stoomaf en dus nie in hierdie stadium oorweeg word nie. Dit sal slegs onder buitengewone omstandighede gedoen word om die Vaaldam aan te vul wanneer die vlak van daardie reservoir tot onder 16% daal. Mafube behoort dus nie op hierdie strategiese reserwe staat te maak nie en moet hul eie maatreëls in plek hê - hulle is vroegtydig gewaarsku.
Dit is die mening van MBF dat MPM nie oor die kapasiteit beskik om volhoubaar water aan die gemeenskap van Mafube as 'n Waterdiensverskaffer (WSP) te bied nie. MPM het by die SA Menseregtekommissie se ondersoek na munisipale dienslewering, erken dat water wat aan die gemeenskap gelewer word die swakste in die land geag word in terme van kwaliteit en beskikbaarheid, met 'n asseseringuitslag van 100% krities. Kyk gerus na die video by https://www.mafubebf.org/post/samrk-sahrc-mafube-knows-water-is-100-critical
Die voorgestelde nuwe wysigings aan die Nasionale Waterwet sal hopelik daartoe lei dat private ondernemings in die nabye toekoms waterdienste oorneem. Die gemeenskap van Mafube sal ongetwyfeld so 'n stap verwelkom.
Besoek ons kantore by Kerkstraat 18A, Frankfort op Maandae tot Donderdae van 08h30 tot 16h00 en Vrydae 08h30 tot 12h00. Bel of stuur 'n WhatsApp-boodskap aan Marina by 079 145 4295. Besoek ons webwerf www.mafubebf.org en volg ons op Facebook.
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As often reported in the media, the Lesotho Highlands Tunnel closed on 1 October 2024 and will remain so until 31 March 2025 for scheduled maintenance. This much-needed maintenance is critical to maintain the integrity of the delivery tunnels as a tunnel failure will risk the transfer of the 780 million mᶟ/annum to the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), via the Liebenbergsvlei River which flows past Tweeling and joins the Wilge River upstream of the weir at Frankfort. The 6-months period is required to conduct maintenance is crucial to avoid any catastrophic event which may result from lack of maintenance.
Mafube Business Forum (MBF) are satisfied that the shut-down was properly planned and that the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) communicated properly and timeously to all stakeholders. DWS had extensive consultations with affected municipalities who depend on abstracting water from IVRS to provide to local communities. It appears that the cautions and advice of DWS was generally adhered to with one notable and predictable exception – Mafube!
DWS did provide funding and technical advice but Mafube Local Municipality (MLM), in their usual casual approach and through lack of urgency, are yet to have the required work completed. At the DWS meeting of 25 September DWS raised a concern on the abstraction point at Frankfort which at that time was still in the tender evaluation process and asked what the contingency plan was in terms of abstracting water as that project would not be implemented before the closure period. The answer presented by a representative from MLM was that there was communal JoJo tanks that would be provided to the communities and water tankers would be utilised to fill those tanks. It was not explained where the water would come from, if not from the Frankfort treatment works. DWS had previously informed the municipality that they should have low level abstraction pumps in place. Once the contractor has been appointed the low level abstraction pumps should be prioritised.
At a follow up meeting attended by MBF on Thursday 17th October, it was indicated that a contractor would be on site by the end of October. At this point in time, it is still not clear whether a contractor had indeed been appointed!
An often-asked question is, if water will be released from the Sterkfontein Dam (which is currently at 97% capacity) into the Wilge River. DWS replied that it is possible but is to be avoided because of the high losses along the way and therefore not considered at this stage. It will only be done under exceptional circumstances to replenish the Vaal Dam when the level of that reservoir drops below 16%. Mafube should therefore not rely on this strategic reserve and should have their own measures in place, having been cautioned well in advance.
It is the view of MBF that MLM do not possess the capacity to sustainably provide water to the community of Mafube as a Water Services Provider (WSP). MLM with its 100% critical assessment admitted thereto at the SA Human Rights Commission’s inquiry into municipal service delivery. The proposed new amendments to the National Water Act will hopefully lead to private enterprise taking over water services in the near future. The community of Mafube will no doubt welcome such a move.
Visit our offices at 18A Church Street, Frankfort on Mondays to Thursdays from 08h30 to 16h00 and Fridays 08h30 to 12h00. Call or send a WhatsApp message to Marina on 079 145 4295. Visit our website www.mafubebf.org and follow us on Facebook.
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