(1) (a) In response to the recent protests that occurred in January 2020 regarding addressing challenges of water availability in QwaQwa in the Free State I had committed to the following:
- Sedibeng Water would be appointed as the implementing agent with regard to all issues related to water challenges.
- A total amount of R220 million will be ring fenced to address water challenges faced by the community of Qwaqwa.
- A total of 5000 water tanks to be procured to increase the number of water tankers (trucks) on the ground
- Equip boreholes to provide water relief
- Explore new technologies to address water challenges
- Establish a Hotline and Call Centre to deal with immediate challenges related to water.
- Sedibeng Water to establish the War Room.
(b) Progress made with regard to the commitments made by the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation are as follows:
- Sedibeng Water was appointed as the Implementing Agent for drought intervention in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality.
- R54 million was allocated in the financial year ending March 2020. More funds are to be allocated in this financial year.
- Seventeen (17) boreholes were equipped with submersible pumps and hand pumps and a total of five (5) boreholes were equipped and connected to the network.
- Potential service providers were invited and presented their technologies which included:
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- Package Water Treatment Works that can be installed quicker than the conventional Water Treatment Works.
- Pumps that do not use electricity.
- A Steering Committee was established and consists of various stakeholders from the community and government representatives.
- Stakeholders Forum has been established and is chaired by the Free State MEC COGTA.
- Maluti-A-Phofung Drought Intervention Programme War Room has also been established by the Sedibeng Water Board.
- A call centre has been equipped and resourced and an application done to Telkom for a hotline which will be operational once Telkom has finalised the installation.
- 136 units of 5,000 litres (5 kL) water tanks have been distributed.
- 30 units of 10,000 litre (10 kL) tanks have been distributed.
- Construction of masonry tank stands has commenced in Ward 28 (Leribe, Theosane, Mabolela and Mabolela Central) and Ward 15 (Thabang, Masimong, Madimong, Sekgutlong).
- 25 Water Tankers of 16 000 litre capacity are delivering water to the affected areas.
- The Maluti-A-Phofung LM has hired 29 trucks from the local contractors.
(2) Progress is as indicated in (1)(b) above.