Hon Deputy Speaker, this has been one of the most difficult questions I have had to respond to during my tenure as Minister of Water affairs. Why it is difficult is because I really battled to think of what I would say. The hon member would have heard that when this imbizo was held in De Aar I was unwell, and this was widely publicised.
I had also told the hon Chief Whip and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, and gave them the necessary documentation to that effect. I take it that the hon member is not asking about my state of health, so I have opted to respond to the question, which is really about what I am doing about the issues that were raised in that imbizo.
Furthermore, I am also offering to give a full report on the work that we are doing in that area. We are doing a great deal of work. We are aware that the area of De Aar - the entire district of Pixley Ka Seme - has water challenges. We have projects that range from ensuring that there is reticulation of water to bulk services projects that are being provided for right now, utilisation of boreholes, and so forth. Some of them have been completed, but I am just going to refer to those that are currently under implementation for this year.
I am sure, in particular, that the hon member would like to understand what is being done about the laying of the new pipeline that was announced by the hon Deputy President.
First, there is currently a bulk water supply project. This is a programme under the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant, which is certainly a major grant. Its abstraction point is at Umsobomvu Local Municipality, a 23 km pipeline which has been installed to the tune of R12, 5 million.
The first phase has been completed and we are now in the second phase. The Colesburg water treatment plant is being upgraded, and the Noupoort bulk water supply project is also being implemented.
There are three scenarios in that regard to ensure that we arrive at the correct solution in providing services, particularly in the Noupoort area. We are looking at the installation of a pipeline from the Orange River, which is the first scenario. We have not really opted for this scenario, but we are aware that the people of that area actually want that pipeline. However, the problem is that it is going to be a very expensive pipeline, which will actually increase the cost of water for the people in that area.
There are also other programmes that we are looking at for Thembelihle Local Municipality that are under implementation. Examples of these programmes are the Hopetown new treatment plant that will be completed in March next year; the Strydenburg bulk ground supply project; in Siyathemba Local Municipality the Niekerkshoop bulk ground supply project is under implementation; in the Kareeberg Local Municipality the water supply of Vanwyksvlei and Carnavon is currently being implemented. In Renosterberg Municipality there are also reticulation refurbishment programmes and wastewater network projects in Phillipstown and Petrusville. As I have undertaken to do, I will give the entire report to the hon member.