I welcome the agreement to be signed today by Rand Water Services and the Vaal Corporation Water Utility (Special Purpose Utility – SPV) to ensure that the 44 pump stations in the Vaal are fully staffed during the interim period before the SPV comes into operation in December this year.
This agreement was confirmed at an urgent meeting I convened yesterday to address a surge in public complaints about sewage spillages in the Vaal. The meeting included Emfuleni Mayor Hassan Mako and representatives of Rand Water, Rand Water Services, and the Vaal Corporation Water Utility.
It was established at the meeting that the Section 63 intervention terminated at the end of July, but there was insufficient staff for the 44 pump stations, including eight critical pump stations that operate 24 hours a day. Instead of the required 28 workers, there are only 11 workers in three roaming teams.
There was also an unfortunate increase in spillages because a project at Pump Station 2 required seven pump stations to be switched off for a week, but this was extended to three weeks.
Rand Water Group Chief Executive Officer Sipho Mosai said that various complex agreements needed to be signed to enable the formation of the SPV, including the transfer of Emfuleni water and sanitation staff.
I am concerned that proper interim measures need to be in place while the SPV is being formed. The SPV will be an independent body with its own board and the funding required to fix the endemic sewage spills and water leaks suffered by residents.
I am also concerned by the 70% vacancy rate among water and sanitation workers in Emfuleni, which has led to a huge backlog of more than 1000 active water leaks and 33 critical sewage pipe breakdowns. On Monday this week, for instance, an aged asbestos pipe burst and flooded the Vereeniging Taxi Rank with sewage but will only be fixed sometime next week.
I will convene further meetings to monitor the situation and ensure a smooth formation of the SPV, which must modernise the sewage and water infrastructure, eliminate leaks and spills, and restore the Vaal River for recreation, tourism, and job creation.
