Pretoria: Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo has acknowledged the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) successful efforts to enhance the sanitation infrastructure for the Matjiesfontein community within the Laingsburg Local Municipality, located in the Western Cape.
According to South African Government News Agency, Deputy Minister Seitlholo officially handed over the newly completed Matjiesfontein Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW), valued at R 19,871,997, along with a newly built sewer pump station to the local municipality. He was joined by the Executive Mayors of Central Karoo District Municipality and Laingsburg Local Municipality, Councillors Johanna Botha and Amanda Kleinbooi.
The Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) funded the construction of the Matjiesfontein WWTW. Previously, the community relied on a water conservancy tank serviced by the Laingsburg Municipality. However, the system had become unsustainable due to high maintenance costs and labor demands. Over time, the conservancy tank infrastructure deteriorated, posing environmental and public health risks due to its inefficiency and non-compliance with effluent quality standards.
The DWS collaborated with the Laingsburg Municipality as the implementing agent to build the new facility, which features modern engineering and water science. The Matjiesfontein WWTW is equipped with a Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) system. This advanced treatment technology integrates biological nutrient removal with membrane filtration, efficiently removing organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphates from wastewater.
The facility is designed to treat up to 150 kilolitres per day, a significant upgrade from the previous capacity of 52.5 kilolitres per day. This capacity is intended to accommodate the town’s growth projections through 2035 and aligns with national targets to eliminate unsafe sanitation practices.
Deputy Minister Seitlholo emphasized that the WWTW’s handover represents not just the culmination of a complex engineering project but a new era for Matjiesfontein. The facility is expected to enhance public health, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development through advanced water infrastructure. It will ensure treated effluent meets regulatory standards, protecting public health and preserving natural watercourses.
Laingsburg Municipality Mayor Kleinbooi praised the collaboration between national and provincial DWS efforts to improve the community’s quality of life. She noted that the sewer pump station and Matjiesfontein WWTW signify restored dignity for local residents. The projects exemplify the power of partnerships between local and national governments and the potential for future community development.
During his visit, Deputy Minister Seitlholo also inspected the new main sewer pump station in Laingsburg, which replaced outdated infrastructure lacking backup generators. The new station accommodates increased demand due to population growth and will facilitate the pumping of treated effluent for irrigation and to the Laingsburg Wastewater Treatment Works. The Laingsburg WWTW has also been upgraded to enhance final effluent quality and treatment capacity.
Deputy Minister Seitlholo concluded his visit by engaging with Matjiesfontein community members, encouraging them to protect the new infrastructure from damage or vandalism.