- The severely deteriorated Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant in Tshwane is currently undergoing renovations and upgrades, expected to cost more than R2 billion.
- Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams said the project is on track and is expected to be completed by October 2022.
- It was also announced that Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu has committed to fully funding the further renovations and upgrades.
The upgrades and renovations to the deteriorated Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant in Tshwane are on track to be completed by October 2022 and will cost more than R2 billion.
In a statement on Friday, Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams gave an update on the project.
He also announced that Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu has committed to fully funding the further renovations and upgrades.
Sisulu and Williams visited the plant on Wednesday.
"The first phase of the Rooiwal plant upgrade project is on track for completion within project timelines. 48% of construction has been completed, and it will exceed 50% by the end of the current financial year (June 2021) and final completion expected to be October 2022," Williams said.
"The budget provided by the city for phase 1 in the current and next year's budget is R235 million."
Williams said Sisulu welcomed the significant advances that have been made on the project and was confident that the upgrades being carried out at the treatment works would bring the desired results of improving the water quality in Hammanskraal.
"The minister was so impressed that she went further and announced a commitment to reprioritise the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) in order to fully fund the future phases of the project to renovate and upgrade the facility.
Cost
"This is a massive achievement for the city and this administration. The project is expected to cost over R2 billion, and we are immensely grateful that the minister has acknowledged our efforts. The minister also stressed the importance of completing the Rooiwal WWTW phase 2 upgrades to support a number of township formalisation projects in the City of Tshwane."
In a statement, Sisulu said it was vital for her to visit the facility to properly understand the concerns raised by the SA Human Rights Commission after the community lodged a complaint with the Chapter 9 institution.
"There are a number of informal settlements that need to be serviced and upgraded to formal settlements. This is one continuum of the cycle of human life. So, it makes it easier for me to say I do have the money and will give it to you in the form of the USDG," Sisulu said.
Williams said the completion of the project would eliminate the severe issues affecting Hammanskraal and surrounding areas and provide additional wastewater treatment capacity to provide for future population growth and the establishment of new human settlements in the City of Tshwane for the next 20 to 30 years.
The Rooiwal waste water treatment works is the largest water treatment plant in Tshwane, processing 45% of all the city's wastewater, Williams explained.
He said the plant was originally built in the 1950s with significant extensions in 1975 and 1988.
"In 2004, it was identified that the ageing plant required substantial refurbishment due to preventative maintenance not being done and also an increase in infrastructure capacity due to increased inflow from the growing development in the city, which causes wastewater to overflow the plant into the Apies River."