The OR Tambo district municipality has set aside more than R250-million for the provision of water and sanitation projects in rural areas across the district.
A total of R165-million will go towards the construction of toilets in rural areas in the Port St John’s and Ingquza Hill municipalities, while the remaining R125-million is for water projects in the two municipalities.
The toilets will be constructed in 17 wards in PSJ and five in Ingquza Hill.
Municipal spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa said the funds would cover 16857 households, meaning to construct and install each unit would cost R9788.
The tender follows another huge toilet installation project that was left unfinished in 2011.
The project was for the construction of toilets in PSJ and Ntabankulu but the contractor left it incomplete, forcing the municipality to hire other contractors to finish off the work.
But the project was not without controversy as it led to a forensic investigation after a senior manager deviated from normal tender processes and approved a sum of more than R10-million to be paid to the two contractors.
One of the contractors was also found to have overstated the number of toilets installed.
An investigation report had recommended that the municipality open criminal cases against the senior manager and others who are still under the employ of the municipality.
None of those recommendations were followed up by council.
OR Tambo municipal manager Owen Hlazo yesterday said the current projects were divided into small phases.
“The principle we are taking is to cover the full ward, and not only the villages within a ward.
“Our sanitation facilities are well accepted by the communities as they are bringing dignity to them.
“These structures are built with removable panels, so that they can be removed to a new pit once the other pit is full.”
An amount R125-million has also been awarded for the construction of boreholes in areas that do not have access to drinking water.
The district was one of the hardest hit by drought recently and some of the worst affected areas were villages.
Now the municipality wants to install boreholes, reservoirs and protect springs.
“The boreholes were tested for quality and water yield. The project scope covers the equipping of boreholes, construction of rising main or bulk raw water pipeline, reservoirs, pipe reticulation and standpipes.
“In these areas there was no access to water provisioning at all. Communities fetch water from rivers and those who can afford purchase from local bakkies and tractors.”
Hlazo said the projects would benefit 20304 people living in 3384 households of the Mhlontlo local municipality. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Boost for water, sanitation projects
A total of R165-million will go towards the construction of toilets in rural areas in the Port St John’s and Ingquza Hill municipalities, while the remaining R125-million is for water projects in the two municipalities.
The toilets will be constructed in 17 wards in PSJ and five in Ingquza Hill.
Municipal spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa said the funds would cover 16857 households, meaning to construct and install each unit would cost R9788.
The tender follows another huge toilet installation project that was left unfinished in 2011.
The project was for the construction of toilets in PSJ and Ntabankulu but the contractor left it incomplete, forcing the municipality to hire other contractors to finish off the work.
But the project was not without controversy as it led to a forensic investigation after a senior manager deviated from normal tender processes and approved a sum of more than R10-million to be paid to the two contractors.
One of the contractors was also found to have overstated the number of toilets installed.
An investigation report had recommended that the municipality open criminal cases against the senior manager and others who are still under the employ of the municipality.
None of those recommendations were followed up by council.
OR Tambo municipal manager Owen Hlazo yesterday said the current projects were divided into small phases.
“The principle we are taking is to cover the full ward, and not only the villages within a ward.
“Our sanitation facilities are well accepted by the communities as they are bringing dignity to them.
“These structures are built with removable panels, so that they can be removed to a new pit once the other pit is full.”
An amount R125-million has also been awarded for the construction of boreholes in areas that do not have access to drinking water.
The district was one of the hardest hit by drought recently and some of the worst affected areas were villages.
Now the municipality wants to install boreholes, reservoirs and protect springs.
“The boreholes were tested for quality and water yield. The project scope covers the equipping of boreholes, construction of rising main or bulk raw water pipeline, reservoirs, pipe reticulation and standpipes.
“In these areas there was no access to water provisioning at all. Communities fetch water from rivers and those who can afford purchase from local bakkies and tractors.”
Hlazo said the projects would benefit 20304 people living in 3384 households of the Mhlontlo local municipality. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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