To: Honourable Minister of Water and Sanitation

Ms N. Mokonyane

REPORT ON PROGRESS MADE IN THE RESTORATION OF WATER SUPPLY IN SOME PARTS OF GAUTENG PROVINCE

1. PURPOSE

To update the Honourable Minister on the progress made in resolving water supply

problems as per the agreed recovery plan.

2. COMMUNICATION

Communication was identified as key part of the strategy in order to keep the affected communities informed of interventions undertaken to restore the water supply. Communications with the affected communities was enhanced through the use of the following mediums.

2.1 Media

Interviews and media briefings were held with the following media houses:-

Jacaranda FM

Radio 702

ANN7

SABC

Media statements were circulated to other media houses with whom no interviews were held.

Rand Water hosted the SABC for a press conference which was held at Rand Water Head office on 27th September 2014.

Other mediums such as Twitter are also being used.

2.2 Door to Door Campaign

To keep the community abreast of developments and progress on the restoration of water supply to the affected areas, a door to door campaign was undertaken.

A total of 55 people were deployed to distribute pamphlets.

A total of 10 000 pamphlets are currently being distributed to the following areas:

Soshanguve (K, L & M)

Midrand (Ward 110 and 92)

Vorna Valley

Noordwyk

South Hills

Boulders.

Ward councillors of the affected communities are fully involved. 20 000 additional pamphlets are being printed for distribution to other affected areas.

2.3 Call Centre

The Rand Water Call Centre has been taking calls relating to the water crisis. Thenumber of calls received on the 26 September was over 650. This number has reduced to below 80 today as restoration continues. This is an indication that water is being restored to many parts of the affected areas and it's possibly also a sign that other mediums of communication are also working.

3. TECHNICAL REPORT

A joint technical committee meeting was held on the 27th of September at Rand Water's Central Depot with key stakeholders to update on progress and hold other technical discussions.

Johannesburg Water

Water has been restored to the following areas:-

Linmeyer

South Hills

Risana

Oakdene

Diepsloot and

Klipfontein View

Ekurhuleni

Water has been restored in the following areas:-

Bedfordview

Germiston

Primrose

Albermale

Castle View

Dinwiddie.

Load shifting will continue and reservoir levels will be monitored closely during that period.

Tshwane

All areas are receiving water except for the following:-

Erasmia

Laudium

Reeds

Rooihuiskraal

Attridgeville

This is due to challenges with the Brakfontein reservoir

4. VISIT TO NATALSPRUIT HOSPITAL

The Board and management visited the New Natalspruit Hospital in Vosloorus and met with the Acting CE and her management team. The report we received was that there were no water supply challenges experienced by this hospital.

4.2 Planned Visits:

The Board, Executives and Management will be continuing the Stakeholder engagement on Sunday 28th September 2014. The scheduled visits will include the following areas:

Diepsloot

Kalafong Hospital in Tshwane

5. CONCLUSION

Steady progress is being made towards the restoration of water in all the affected areas. We will also ramp up the communication and stakeholder engagement.

Tshidi Hashatse

Date: 27 September 2014

Issued by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, September 29 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter