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[File Image] A view shows the ground of the Rialb reservoir as drinking water supplies have plunged to their lowest level.
Government intends to launch the first phase of the Klipdrift potable water treatment plant as part of ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water to Hammanskraal residents.
Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, will be accompanied by Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo, and Sello Seitlholo to the plant situated in the north of Pretoria.
Accessing clean and drinkable water in Hammanskraal remains a dream.
Hammanskraal residents have been complaining about unhygienic water over the years and just like a circle, it never ends.
“The water is very dirty, it’s smelly, we can’t use them to bath, we can’t cook with it, we can’t do anything. We usually say water is life but here in Hammanskraal water is death. That means government is killing us,” says one of the residents.
Some areas have running taps, yet the quality of water supplied to residents is questionable.
South African National Civics Organisation’s Jeffrey Nyathikazi says they would like to see the Tshwane mayor tasting the water given to them.
“We have been running for three weeks without water, and thereafter, it started at night, actually this morning around 3 am. So, we don’t have assurety to say we can drink that water. We are still saying we will be waiting for that assurety as our executive mayor should be the first one to drink that water,” adds Nyathikazi.
These continuous water supply challenges have necessitated intervention by the national government.
Last year, the department directed Magalies Water to design and install a new water-treatment plant at its Klipdrift Water Treatment Works near Hammanskraal.
Water and Sanitation Spokesperson, Cornelius Monama says installation of this new plant will now see some parts of the area accessing water from their taps.
“The portable water treatment plant is being implemented in four phases; the current completed face will bring in 12.5 mega litres of portable water into the bulk supply system,” he explains.
The department also indicated that the additional water treatment plant will supply water to certain reservoirs in the city’s water distribution system to increase the supply of clean drinking water to Hammanskraal.-Additional reporting by Simphiwe Mabhena
