MOQHAKA MUNCIPALITY

"People's power in action"

Kroonstad - Steynsrus - Viljoenskroom

OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR

DATE: 27 SEPTEMBER 2010

MEMO

TO: Mrs. MATHABO SETENANE

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

FREE STATE PROVINCIAL OFFICE

SOUTH AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

REFERENCE: Our Ref: / ML/p6)

YOUR Ref: FS2010/0231
SUBJECT: COMPLAINT - GARETH VAN ONSELEN

The office wishes to acknowledge receipt of your enquiry regarding the above subject dated 27 September 2010.

Attached please find the Memo that provides the background to the above enquiry as well as steps taken by the Municipality to address the stated challenge.

Any information that may be needed as a supplementary to the one provided, the office will gladly cooperate with you so as to put a closure to the matter.
Regards

ClIr. Mantebu Mokgosi
Executive Mayor

MEMO

TECHNICAL SERVICES

Date: 20 SEPTEMBER 2010

Reference: (ML/pb)

To: EXECUTIVE MAYOR

Subject: CONSTRUCTION OF TOILET TOP STRUCTURES THROUGH MASIFICATION IN RAMMULOTSI

PURPOSE

To provide informational Information on the construction of toilet lop structures in Rammulotsi by means of masification use of ward based local labour.

BACKGROUND

A newspaper article titled ANCs OPEN TOILET SHAME was publicized on the City Press edition dated 11 July 2010 with pictures of Rammulotsi toilets with no covers. The visit of the Premier on Friday 17 September 2010 in Rammulotsi has identified top structures to be constructed y means of masification.

DISCUSSION

Rammulotsi settlement is an area which was previously not supplied with an intermediate level of sewerage service (house connection) but had the bucket system. Since 2001 programmes were initiated to eradicate the bucket system by introducing the sewer borne facilities. Due to high cost involved the project was to be done in phases in the medium term with certain works not included.

Tenders were prepared and called for service providers with the following conditions:

• For the construction of main sewer outfall lines with allowance for connection point in the yard;
• For construction of a toilet slab, installation of toilet pot with a cistern and water connection;
• That the toilet enclosures (top structures) be the responsibility of the owners and was not part of the contract;
• On occupied stands residents have to put up own top structures.

The grant funding condition was such that as many stands as possible were to be serviced, hence to provide an operational facility without a top structure where the owner would relocate his existing structure where the bucket was located was the only way to do the project. The existing zinc top structures we to be put onto the supplied and constructed plinth.

The challenges faced among others were that during construction owners were not available, some indigent or unemployed, top structures not buit yet, hence toilets left open.

The project is in the municipal budget but due limitation of available funds and no confirmation from possible grant fonder it is not funded. An estimated budget of R8000,000.00 is required to address this challenge. This project is not currently budget for by the municipality.

This represents the erection of 1829 top structures at a cost varying. This is only for the erection of a permanent top structure on the existing slabs. The fact that RDP houses which are equipped with toilets have also been constructed in the area affects the accuracy of the above figure of top structures to be erected.

In some cases residents have removed the internal toilet to create more space and are thus demanding toilet structures outside of the house.

This practice is frowned upon by DWA and COGTA as it constitutes double funding and exemption should be obtained as to what is to be done in these cases.

These open toilets named in the article are putting Moqhaka Municipality at shame due to the negative publicity connected thereto. This is because the open toilets do not do justice to the dignity of the members of the community. It also constitutes a health hazard and puts the community members at risk of the elements when using the system.

Since the program of installing water borne sewer for the community of Rammulotsi a program was introduced which ran parallel to the installation of the sewer networks where top structures were erected on completed open toilets. A total of 1350 structures were erected under these programs. Funding for this was obtained from the District Municipailty and some funds were transferred from a project in Matlwangtlwang after that project had been completed. Urgent intervention funding would be required to address this backlog.

The following was the finding of the audit in Rammulotsi:

No structure with plumbing - 1274

Houses are build without internal toilet facilities. There is a slab on the outside with no top structure but with toilet pan and cistern connected to the water/sewer supply.

Top structures requires to be build.

No structure and no plumbing - 109

The residents use the bucket system and or the neighbors toilet facilities. There is a toilet slab on the outside with no furniture (toilet pan and cistern) and no top structure.

Fully furnished top structures to be constructed.

RDP with 2 and outside one without structure - 234

These are RDP houses with water borne toilet system inside. On the outside there is a slab without furniture or top structure

The slab to be removed and the connection, be closed off.

Formal household with bucket system - 148

RDP house build with internal toilet facilities but the facilities were broken by the owners to extend the house. The residents are using the bucket system.

Fully furnished top structures to be constructed.

Household using VIP toilets - 64

Community build their own houses and they use the VIP toilets. There is a slab on the outside with furniture and no top structure.

The slab to be removed and the residents use the VIP toilets.

TOTAL 1829

Summary of the need and prioritization of toilet facilities required:

Rammulotsi

A technical report and business plan has been forwarded to the Department of Human Settlement to solicit the required funding The municipality has through the Department of Human Settlement commissioned a service provider for the construction and provision of sewerage facilities in the form of toilet top structures in Marabastad The project was completed and resulted in a Saving of approximately R1 .2m for which the Department advised that it could be used for smaller project in the municipality.

A motivational report was forwarded to the Department requesting approval to utilize the saving in the unserviced ervens in Gelukwaarts, Seeisoville, Phomolong and Tuinhof area. The reasoning was such that bulk services are available hence to f the in-situ development. Subsequently this request was approved

In July 2010 when the need arose for tofet top structures in Rammulotsi this saving was then redirected to this project In Rammulotsi. The service provider was already appointed for the similar kind of works to be undertaken In Rammulotsi and requested to utilise ward based local labour. This was to be considered as the first phase and the main contractor to be inter alia responsible for the following:

• Provide Initial capital required
• Raises securities and guarantees
• Provide necessary requisite equipment and vehicles
• Has the required knowledge and skill to undertake the works
• Solicit and purchase materials
• Be responsible for replenishment security and issuing of materials
• Supervise works with normal standards
• Be responsible for quality assurance
• Be held liable for possible time and cost overruns

The above are some of the points taken into consideration when a service provider was appointed however recruitment of ward based local labour was emphasized which is the case. The total labour (50) to be recruited from local is as follows: 20 bricklayers; 20 general workers and 10 concrete slab workers.

The ensuing phases will however be done by use of masification identifying within respective wards artisans of requisite trades (bricklayers), The identification will be done through the ward committees and ward councillors whereby communities will be required to submit their details. The process has started to identify beneficiaries of the toilet top structures and their numbers.

However, it should be noted that a project of this magnitude requires the services of a project manager to oversee the entire process namely personnel, equipment and materials. Further that communities identified to undertake works should have the following

• Requisite skills and knowhow
• Necessary tools arid equipment of trade
• Means of transportation

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended:

(a) that the report and situation pertainIng to the toilet top structures in Rammulotsi be noted:
(b) that local ward based labour will be used through masification;
(c) that this will be undertaken as the 2nd phase of the project.
(d) that the design structures be revised (size):

 and

(e) that it be noted that the 1st phase contractor is on site whereby materials purchased and construction started.

MANAGER TECHNICAL SERVICES

Source: http://thedadeliverydaily.files.wordpress.com/

Transcribed from PDF. Please check against the original.

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