Mogalakwena: Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo has urged Mogalakwena Local Municipality to take corrective actions to address the dysfunctional wastewater treatment plants that are contributing to watercourse pollution in the region. Accompanied by Mogalakwena Municipality Mayor Ngoako Thulani Taueatsoala and Lepelle Northern Water Board Chairperson Dr. Nndweleni Mphephu, Seitlholo recently conducted an oversight visit to several sites within the municipality under Waterberg District, Limpopo.
According to South African Government News Agency, the Deputy Minister visited various dysfunctional wastewater treatment plants and some households impacted by malfunctioning sewer systems. The inspection included facilities such as the Mokopane Wastewater Treatment Works, Old Masodi and Sekgakgapeng Oxidation Ponds, the Masodi Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Doorndraai Water Treatment Works.
The Deputy Minister referenced the 2023 Green Drop Report, noting that Mogalakwena Municipality’s waste
water systems are in a critical state and need significant improvement. The report emphasized the need for a concerted effort to enhance wastewater services, particularly focusing on effluent treatment issues.
Seitlholo highlighted that 78% of the wastewater treatment works in Limpopo are critical and dysfunctional, leading to contamination of water courses due to untreated or partially treated effluent entering rivers and dams. This pollution affects water quality and increases the costs for municipalities to treat water in bulk. The municipality is encouraged to develop a corrective action plan to address these issues.
Despite these challenges, the Deputy Minister praised the Masodi Wastewater Treatment plant for meeting required effluent treatment standards. This plant, a multi-year public-private partnership funded by Ivanplats Proprietary Limited Mine, treats 10 megalitres a day, improving sanitation provision in Mokopane and surrounding areas. It also supplies local industries with grey water for reus
e from the treated effluent.
Seitlholo noted that the Masodi plant is the only one in Limpopo operating to required standards, demonstrating the importance of public-private partnerships in improving water and sanitation services. This point was emphasized at the National Water and Sanitation Indaba held earlier this year, where the need for such partnerships was a key focus.
The Deputy Minister also visited Sekhiming and Kuranta villages in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality, Mopani District, to assess the Sand Water Extraction Project. This initiative by Lepelle Northern Water extracts water from the sand of the Molototsi River, which naturally stores and filters water, aiming to provide a reliable water source for surrounding villages, especially during droughts.
Seitlholo stated that this project is part of broader efforts to address water scarcity in rural areas of Limpopo, particularly those severely affected by recent droughts. The initiative aligns with resolutions from the Water and Sanitation
Indaba to employ innovative and technological methods to ensure reliable water access for communities nationwide.