R85m boost for Ndlambe

Plan to repair, develop infrastructure to solve water and sewage problem

In a lively meeting on Tuesday May 31, the Ndlambe Council approved a R85 million budget for the municipality’s 2022/23 Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG).

Ndlambe Mayor KhululwaNcamiso’s presentation was followed by sharp scrutiny by outspoken EFF PR councillor Xolisa Runeli, ANC Ward 5 councillor Mzwandile Sweli and Ward 10 councillor Nadine Haynes.

TotT has received reports from some residents who say certain scheduled public IDP consultations didn’t happen; however, Ncamiso assured the Council and the gallery that the 2022/2023 Budget and Integrated Development Plan had considered the input and comments of the public.

Of the overall R85mWSIG budget, R10,472,403.61 is allocated for wards 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 for Thornhill Ministerial Housing project.

It should see phase 2 of the area’s link sanitation services as well as a pump station and pumping main developed.

Ward 6 is also allocated R5,200,000 for internal bulk sewerage and reticulation at Station Hill township.

R27,002,810.65 is allocated for the Thornhill Ministerial Housing Project phase 2 link sanitation services — a gravity line from the provincial road to the existing pump station.

Ward 10 is allocated R19,840,064.35 for the Thornhill Ministerial Housing Project phase link sanitation services.

It further catered for a gravity sewer line from Wharf Street and overflow sump at the new sewerage pump station.

R302,504,365.13 is allocated for phase 1 of the upgrading of the sewerage system in Port Alfred’s ward 10.

The WSIG grant is one of several streams of water infrastructure funding provided by the government to municipalities.

According to Department of Water and Sanitation documents, it is intended to “provide interim, intermediate water and sanitation supply”.

It goes alongside the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant, intended to supplement the financing to develop regional bulk water and sanitation infrastructure.

These are both conditional grants.

Well known for speaking his mind, EFFcouncillorRuneli asked: “Why are you giving so much money to the ward 10 in town who benefited from the past? That is supposed to go to the township people to address the injustices of the past.”

Municipal Manager Advocate Rolly Dumezweni explained that one of the conditions of the funding from the Department of Water and Sanitation is that the municipality ensures that the RO Plant produces five megalitres by getting enough sewage in town to be treated for water consumption.

At the moment the RO Plant produces three megalitres a day.

Before succumbing to MM Dumezweni’s response Runeli asked why sewage from the township where there is high population could not be used to achieve the same goal.

“You know even though you imply that sewage from town is better than sewage from township I will be quiet because we all want water not sewage,” he said.

Ward 10 councillor Haynes asked why residents are made to pay enough money for insufficient water service.

She went as far as asking the person who signed for the approval of Quality Filtrations Systems knowing that there would not be enough sewage for the 5ML.

Dumezweni said an arbitrator was appointed to look at the contractual agreement and therefore money could be recovered if there was contractual agreement failure.