Conservation still a priority in NC, despite overflowing rivers – dept

WHILE the water storage capacity in the Northern Cape has surpassed the 110% mark this week, the Department of Water and Sanitation has however warned residents to save water.

The department said yesterday that water conservation remains a priority.

“Water storage in the Northern Cape is this week at 110.1% full. However, the Department of Water and Sanitation warns that water conservation remains a priority as South Africa is a waterscarce country, ranking as the 30th driest in the world. Furthermore, the Northern

Cape is the driest province in the country. All water users are urged to continue to use water wisely and sparingly,” the department said.

The department said that the dams in the Province are filled to capacity.

“The Vaal Dam is 102.99% full, with two sluice gates remaining open after two gates were closed earlier in the week, and another one yesterday. Bloemhof Dam is at 111.3%, Vaalharts storage Weir 70.65%, Douglas Storage Weir 138.5% and spilling, while the Spitskop storage weir is 111.4% full.

“In the Lower Orange System, the Vanderkloof Dam is at 106.36% of its storage capacity and spilling at 579 m3/s and a further 371 m3/s is passing through the turbines to generate additional electricity for Eskom.”

The department added that the height of some rivers in the Province has risen.

“Water height in metres at Marksdrift is 2.281m, at Katlani just below the confluence where the Vaal River merges into one with the Orange River, the height is 5.276 metres high, at Prieska 4.601 metres, at Upington 5.218 metres and at Blouputs just below the Augrabies Fall it is at 3.08 metres,” said the department.

It also urged residents to adhere to the safety measures implemented to avoid flooding.

“Disaster management teams and safety measures remain in place and all water users, residents and motorists are urged to co-operate with safety measures with regards to closed roads and to move activities away from possibly flooding rivers, dams, islands and water bodies.”

THE SOUTH African Municipal Union (Samwu) is preparing to interdict the Sol Plaatje Municipality to prevent the appointment of 28 security personnel. The union claims that the municipality did not follow the correct selection and recruitment procedures.

This is despite the fact that the mayor placed a moratorium on the appointments earlier this week due to “serious cash flow problems” within the municipality.

Samwu chairperson, Daily Semau, said that the majority of candidates were not qualified and were not registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira).

“We are going ahead with the interdict even though the mayor has stopped the appointments. We have given the municipality until Friday (today) to respond to lawyer’s letters, failing which we will ask for an urgent interdict. We want to rescue the municipality from having to face litigation or labour disputes if the contracts are retrospectively declared invalid.

“During the first lockdown, security appointments were snuck in so we do not want to take any chances. After lockdown restrictions were relaxed and we arrived at work to find them appointed.”

He indicated that, to their knowledge, some of the new contracts were in the process of being approved.

“The date of appointment of

February 1 was later shifted to March 1. This is while the staff complement of the municipality is bloated and the council is cash strapped. All vacancies are supposed to have been frozen in light of cost containments.”

Semau added that the vacancies were also not advertised internally or externally.

“There are cleaning and expanded public work (EPWP) staff, who are graded as security guards and are registered with Psira. These employees should be given preference in applying for permanent positions with more benefits.”

Spokesperson for Sol Plaatje Municipality, Sello Matsie, stated that no security appointments had been approved.