Water and Sanitation Minister, Nomvula Mokonyane, visited water-stricken Qwaqwa in the Free State on Tuesday.
The Minister met with local and district municipalities as well as representatives from the Water and Sanitation Department and officials from the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Department in the Free State.
Qwaqwa and other parts of the Free State have had serious water problems over the past two years in relation to not only the ongoing drought but a lack of infrastructure too.
Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, says these issues formed part of the discussions.
“The issue was to say where have we been in terms of the situation in Qwaqwa. And obviously acceptance of the fact that due to the drought even the four dams that are within the area were not able to help in any way. And more particularly, the fact that the primary dam, Fika Patso, was at about less than 10 % for a very long time and therefore the water there could not be used,” says Ratau.
Ratau says recent rains have provided a bit of relief but the water crisis has not yet been averted in certain parts of the Free State.
He says Fika Patso Dam levels is currently 42.9% as opposed to 13.5% that it was during this time last year.
Free State dam levels are at an average of 81.9% compared to 53.9% in March 2016.
The province is currently experiencing episodes of heavy rainfall with the average dam levels rising by a staggering 17.5 % in the past week.
Moeketsi Mogotsi/Courant News
