Africa-Press – South-Africa. Sewage issues are not just limited to Durban and Cape Town, but are prevalent throughout South Africa, says Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu.
He was speaking in Reservoir Hills, Durban, at the official recommissioning of Aqueduct 1 and Reservoir 3 by Umgeni Water on Friday.
“We are interested in sewerage [concerns], but fighting against spillages and such, [is] not just in eThekwini and Cape Town, but all over,” Mchunu told a large media contingent.
Around R18 billion had been allocated for infrastructure in the new year, a figure that was not likely to change, he said.
“What must change is our mindset to the whole of the water sector, we have a duty to do a lot of maintenance work in terms of our infrastructure.”
Mchunu added attending to infrastructure concerns emerged during a summit the department held in February 2022.
“Everybody raised a concern that we seem to be underperforming as a sector when it comes to maintenance. It is a matter that is receiving our attention, and the budget will follow.”
He said there was a political will to address ongoing concerns around infrastructure.
“Yes, there is a clear political will, this is our hope, and this is our place as South Africans. Even budget-wise, we are committed.
“Where we see that there isn’t much progress and success, we intervene there,” he said.
Durban’s sewage mess
Mchunu said the department completed an assessment of water and sanitation infrastructure in eThekwini three months ago.
He said:
The department spent about half a day meeting and making presentations, he added.
“It is acknowledged that it is a matter of concern for both themselves, and us for the infrastructure with the sewage.”
Since then, a technical committee was set up to make accurate assessments of the needs of the city, said Mchunu.
“The next meeting is on 20 January, and we hope that meeting will come up with something complete relating to what needs to be done.
“It will require quite a bit of money because these concerns have been there for some time, and it is now time to act on them.”
Durban has been fraught with sewage spills since the April 2022 floods damaged already poorly maintained sewerage infrastructure.
This has resulted in high levels of E. coli being detected in almost all Durban beaches as raw, untreated sewage makes its way into the ocean and rivers.
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