Utilities
Finding skilled personnel to run its water works is a major challenge for the municipalities and water boards of Mpumalanga.
• The R2.7-billion Vaal Pipeline is delivering water to its major clients.
Although Mpumalanga is the nation’s powerhouse, hosting as it does most of South Africa’s power stations, getting electricity and clean water to all of its residents still presents a challenge. As the national Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs pointed out at the Mpumalanga Water Summit in October 2009, a critical factor is finding skilled personnel at operational level.
Although 74% of Mpumalanga’s households are now electrified, the province is the only one in South Africa where the majority of these households (52%) actually spend more on alternate sources of energy than on electricity (Department of Energy, 2009).
The first phase of the Bethal Electrification Project was due for completion in 2010. The upgrading of the substation created 456 short-term jobs and will reduce winter power outages. The provincial government has committed another R10-million towards the second phase.
The provision of water and waste-water facilities presents the most pressing challenge, particularly in a province with water-hungry industries. The R2.7-billion Vaal Pipeline Project (also known as Vresap) is now delivering water to the big companies which have recently increased their production capacity, Eskom and Sasol.
The national Department of Water Affairs has changed from being a water services provider to being a regulator; the idea being that delivery devolves to local level. The Inkomati Catchment Management Agency was the first such agency to be established in South Africa and six water user associations have recently been established in the province.
It is likely that the three water boards that currently serve the province’s three districts will come under one provincial board. Bushbuckridge Water has changed its name to Mpumalanga Water. Mhlathuze Water, based in KwaZulu-Natal, serves the Gert Sibande District and Rand Water is currently providing water in the province’s western district.
In response to outbreaks of cholera and diarrhoea, provincial and national summits were held and the provincial government pledged R47-million to municipalities for the provision of bulk water infrastructure. The Delmas Water Treatment Plant was completed in 2010, in addition to five new boreholes. Rand Water has been commissioned to construct the Delmas Bulk Water Pipeline, to which the provincial government is contributing R25-million.
Online resources
Eskom: www.eskom.co.za
Inkomati Catchment Management Agency: www.inkomaticma.co.za
National Department of Water Affairs: www.dwa.gov.za
Vaal Pipeline Project: www.tcta.co.za
Water Institute of South Africa: www.wisa.org.za
