Hon Chairperson, during the oral reply session in this House on the 11 September, we indicated that we will visit Emfuleni Local Municipality to assess progress on government's efforts towards addressing the sewage spillage challenges that are impacting on the Vaal River system pollution. Indeed we took that visit on the 12 September as indicated. I was joined by the Minister of Human settlements, Water and Sanitation, the Deputy Minister, the Gauteng MEC and the mayors of Sedibeng and Emfuleni respectively as well as senior officials from the SA National Defence Force, SANDF, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Gauteng province.
Whilst pollution challenges still remain, we were encouraged by the progress that the intervention of the SANDF has made in resolving the sewage spillage, the infrastructure network blockages, the sewage pollution flowing into the Vaal River. There has been significant progress, through the intervention of the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation. Progress has been made in upgrading waste treatment plant to respond to then growth of the human settlement areas around Emfuleni. Work is currently underway to expedite the commissioning of additional capacity resulting from upgraded infrastructure. In fact, the work that is happening at
Emfuleni is quite inspiring, but of course we must there has been a delay and lack of maintenance of the existing infrastructure.
We had several discussions with the Minister of Human settlements, Water and Sanitation regarding the situation at Emfuleni and the pollution of the Vaal River. In addition, the Presidency and the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs are currently having an ongoing engagement with the Office of the Premier in Gauteng and the municipalities so that we can increase our support to that situation.
Given the fact that the Vaal River system cuts through and benefits four provinces, it has been agreed that a collaborative intergovernmental approach is required to holistically respond to the pollution challenges across the entire Vaal River system. In this regard, the provinces of Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape will be required to work together to implement coordinated intervention that will drastically reduce the pollution in the Vaal River.
Within a short while, we will be convening a meeting with the premiers of these affected provinces to ensure that we agree on an
implementation of an integrated plan that will respond comprehensively to the challenges of sewage spillage that continues to pollute the Vaal River. Despite progress made to date, it is evident that more urgent work still needs to be done to fully contain the Vaal River system pollution. In the main urgent intervention includes upgrading of ageing bulk sewer and reticulation infrastructure which contributes to the diversion of sewer into the river.
The team led by the Minister led by the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has shared with us a comprehensive plan with clear sets of action and required resources. It has been indicated on our visit that R1,1 billion will be required to stop the pollution of the Vaal River. The Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation working with Gauteng Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency, the SANDF, Ekurhuleni Water Care Company, Emfuleni Local Municipality and Rand Water have developed an intervention plan to stop the pollution into the Vaal River.
The intervention includes 44 pump stations and three waste water treatment plants namely, Sebokeng Leewkuil and Rietspruit. It also includes replacing and repairing gravity raising mains, leak
detection and addressing deficiencies in the network system. The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has already Ekurhuleni Water Care Company to attend to the urgent task of unblocking the sewer reticulation system and fixing leakages to ensure that sewer flows into the Vaal River are completely eliminated.
To successfully deal with water pollution and negative environmental impact, we need to mobilise more and more resources to ensure that the Vaal River situation is completely resolved in the short, medium and the long term. The Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has reprioritised in its own budget an amount of R240 million in its Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant to support the SA National Defence Force in its work of improving the sewer treatment plant. The Gauteng Provincial Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department together with Emfuleni Local Municipality have reprioritised an amount of R90 million and R20 million respectively in order to try and support the work done by the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation.
The Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has further requested funding from the National Treasury for the shortfall of R750 million. To fast-track the human settlements
development programme and contribute towards economic development in the Emfuleni Local Municipality the capacity of the waste treatment plants in the area should be augmented. It is estimated that the cost of this project when it is fully completed will cost the country R6 billion and the proposal has been submitted to National Treasury to fund this programme.
As the Presidency we will continue to work closely with all the role- players and stakeholders to ensure that we resolve the sewer spillage challenges and restore the integrity of the Vaal River. Thank you very much.