The City of Tshwane’s Section 79 Utility Services committee has expressed satisfaction with the Department of Utility Services’ performance in refurbishing the Rooiwaal Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was identified as the source of dirty water supplied to Hammanskraal residents.
The committee’s position follows a meeting where they summoned senior managers from the department to account for the ongoing refurbishment work at the under-capacity wastewater treatment plant.
Committee chairperson Flora Monama said the wastewater treatment works regulatory requirements report highlighted the importance of ongoing monitoring to ensure water quality meets SANS 241:2015 standards.
She explained that the compliance percentage is calculated according to the blue drop certification system, and the reports indicate improvements in bulk water testing, which will provide residents with quality drinking water.
Monama said: “The Water and Sanitation Department presented a progress report on the Rooiwaal Wastewater Treatment Works project that is under way. Phase 1A of the project has been completed by contractors Uyapo Engineering Projects and Magand Projects Pty (Ltd) within the stipulated timeframe of 12 months. The contractors are now addressing all defect issues as they arise during the defect liability period.”
According to her, the project is currently in Phase 1B, which commenced in April 2025, focusing on civil works.
“The committee indicated that they are happy with the progress presented thus far and that an investigation will take place at the beginning of the next financial year to see the physical progress of the project,” she stated.
Monama said the committee members took cognisance of the reports and acknowledged the efforts that the departments are putting into their performance.
“It is important for the departments to respond to service delivery issues of the residents in time,” she said.
She stressed that service delivery to city residents is a priority for the committee, and members are committed to ensuring this through ongoing monitoring of departmental performance reports.
The work at Rooiwal is part of a larger effort to address water pollution in Hammanskraal, where a cholera outbreak two years ago claimed over 20 lives.
The national Department of Water and Sanitation and the city are collaborating to repair and upgrade the Rooiwal plant at an estimated cost of R4 billion.
