Eastern Cape: Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, Sello Seitlholo, has expressed concern at the vandalism of water infrastructure in the Eastern Cape. Seitlholo raised his concern during an oversight visit conducted this week in the Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City Metros. Seitlholo’s visits formed part of his delegated responsibility to address challenges that impact the quality of water in several water sources, which are often impacted by the discharge of poor-quality effluent into rivers.

According to South African Government News Agency, the two-day oversight visit was aimed at assessing the state of Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Metros. He also met with representatives from the two Metros and Amatola Water Board, the bulk water supplier in the province. On the first day of the visit, the Deputy Minister met with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Deputy Mayor Babalwa Lobishe, who gave a report on wastewater treatment plants in the city.

Among the main issues raised was the vandalism of wa
ter infrastructure, a matter which was also raised during his site inspection of the Fishwater Flats Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) in Gqeberha. The Fishwater Flats WWTW is the largest in Gqeberha and services more than 60% of the city’s population. The plant experienced major destruction to a cost of almost R5 million, with the repairs estimated to cost four times more. This has heavily impacted the work being done, which in turn impacts the quality of water being treated and discharged.

During the visit at the Buffalo City Metro in East London on the second day, the Deputy Minister inspected the Mdantsane East Wastewater Treatment Plant, including Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Plant in Mdantsane, and Westbank Wastewater Treatment Plant. Prior to site inspections at the wastewater treatment plants, Seitlholo held a meeting with the Buffalo City Executive Mayor, Princess Faku, who also highlighted the destruction of infrastructure as a major issue. However, Faku assured the Deputy Minister that repairs wer
e underway.

Seitlholo received feedback on sewage treatments for Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, including Alfred Nzo, Amathole, Chris Hani, Joe Gqabi, and Sarah Baartman District Municipalities. Responding to the malicious damage of infrastructure, the Deputy Minister urged the municipalities to also investigate inside jobs when it comes to the vandalism of infrastructure.

‘I am fundamentally concerned about the level of vandalism and theft that is happening here. The municipality is losing a couple of millions due to theft and to replace that it costs them four times what is lost…you can imagine the financial burden that places on the city. I do want to urge the municipality that we know where the theft is happening and where the hotspots are, so they need to find themselves in a position where they are able to invest more in static security,’ Seitlholo said. He also called on a change of attitude and roles of communities when it comes to pollution in the country, noting that ‘the pollution of wat
er resources not only comes from dysfunctional infrastructure.’

The Deputy Minister further acknowledged that failing WWTW is the biggest contributor to the pollution of water resources, however, communities and businesses play a role. ‘We need to emphasise the point of job creation and point of economic growth because where there is pollution that’s where businesses are run, whether it’s tourism or agriculture,’ the Deputy Minister said.