The Department of Water and Sanitation says a rescue plan is needed to provide relief for water-stricken areas such as Qwaqwa in the Free State.
This follows the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane’s visit to the area on Tuesday.
Mokonyane met with local and district municipalities, the Free State Department of Water and Sanitation officials, as well as members of the provincial department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, some areas are still struggling with water-related issues despite recent rainfall.
“Putting together the plan implies looking at what kind of solutions could be possible for Qwaqwa and what kind of solutions can be facilitated in the short term or in the long term. We know that there have been solutions around tankers and so on, but obviously because of the high costs they needed to be withdrawn not just in the area but across the country,” says Ratau.
Ratau says tanks providing water in areas without any water supply are in the process of being withdrawn as a directive from National Treasury.
He says a technical task team has been put in place through the Department of Cogta in the province to provide a water and sanitation plan.
The task team will include the national department of Water and Sanitation as well as local and district municipalities.
Moeketsi Mogotsi/Courant News
