By The DA attended a meeting of stakeholders arranged by Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) regarding the closure of Lesotho Highland Water Scheme Canal the afternoon before the shutdown. The DA in the Free State will monitor the commitments made by the project managers, contractors and sub-contractors regarding the time frames for the completion of maintenance work on the Lesotho Highland Water Scheme Canal.
There are two projects to repair erosion and clean the canal, comprising one from Muela Power Station in Lesotho to the Caledon River and another from the Caledon River in South Africa that includes the Ash River outlet between Bethlehem and Clarens and the river down to the Sol Plaatje Dam at Bethlehem.
The DA is optimistic about the abilities of the contractors to complete the Ash River side of the R275 million project in six months. The project includes sandblasting and recoating the steel structures and repairing of grout holes inside the tunnel. The outfall will also be cleaned, and attempts will be made to mitigate further erosion on the banks of the 28 km Ash River.
The DA remains concerned that Dihlabeng Municipality has not yet completed the boreholes, pump station and other infrastructure to ensure sound quality and water supply to residents of Clarens and Kgubetswana during the shutdown. During the meeting with stakeholders in Clarens on the eve of the closure of the water, it was agreed that monthly feedback meetings would take place, but the representatives of Dihlabeng were hesitant to commit to this.
The weak link to ensure that residents of Kgubetswana and Clarens are not negatively impacted by the closure of the water from Lesotho for six months remains Dihlabeng Municipality. They have received money to mitigate such impacts from National Government, and their comments the afternoon before the closure of the canal that they “are almost there” are not good enough.
The National Department of Water and Sanitation has indicated that water will be released from the Sol Plaatje and Sterkfontein Dams during the shutdown to boost water supply to affected towns downstream. Most towns in the Free State experience water supply and quality problems with large-scale sewage pollution due to municipal incapacity caused by poor financial management and lack of skills. The shutdown must not be used as an excuse for poor water and sanitation services in affected municipalities.
The DA will represent affected communities in the Free State as a key stakeholder that will monitor progress and, through oversight, ensure accountability on the project and in all municipalities.
