Sedibeng, the district municipality comprising the municipalities of Midvaal, Lesedi and Emfuleni, is a district with a long-term plan that shows it is far from being reticent.
The area is one of the poorest in southern Gauteng. Historically, the it was predominantly white and middle class. But this has changed: of the more than one million residents, 80% are black and live mainly around Sedibeng.
Manufacturing, the main economic activity, has in recent years widened to include service-based activities, which now make up 51% of trade.
The district municipality says it is well situated to render support services to the Fifa World Cup teams in 2010, particularly as a training venue. It is relatively close to Johannesburg and Pretoria, where key matches will be played and where most international visitors will arrive. It is easily accessible by major freeways and also has its own airport, which, explains municipal manager Lisa Seftel, will be upgraded before 2010.
Much of the activity being undertaken will be in partnerships with the private sector, as well as with funding from provincial and national government sources. Seftel explains: ‘Our objective will be to use 2010 as a catalyst and opportunity to leverage resources to speed up sustainable growth and development. Our long-term goal is a river-front city encompassing all our municipalities, which will effectively bridge southern Gauteng. The new spatial vision is for one city from Vereeniging to Vanderbijlpark, including Sharpeville, Bophelong and Boipatong.
‘Flagship projects to be developed as part of this will be fan parks, with live-feed large screens, eateries and entertainment and, of course, stepped-up security around these areas. We are also planning new recreational areas — mainly riverfront — and upgrading existing accommodation. We have already facilitated the grading of many bed and breakfast venues with the local entrepreneurs, for instance.
All these plans form part of Sedibeng’s focus areas, which are:
- reinventing the economy, which in recent years has taken a downturn;
- renewing communities through property development;
- rendering of basic services;
- reviving a sustainable environment by focusing on the improvement of air, water and soil quality (Sedibeng is a known ‘hot spot” for polluted air, and considerable attention is being given to this by both public and private companies responsible for the pollution); and
- reintegrating the region, with the improvement of transport links and connectivity, as well as releasing human potential through accelerated investment in people and increased focus on the development of social capital.
Seftel says: ‘Our soccer development programme is such a plan. We are trying to get a soccer field in each community, with accompanying sustainability measures. In this way, youngsters will become part of a soccer culture.”
Concerns about the quality of the Vaal River’s water, however, have been raised. Last week, the NGO Save Our Vaal Environment, had water tested at nine sites along the river. These showed the water quality was not just below internationally accepted standards, but also downright dangerous.
Seftel denies the allegations, while agreeing that the quality is below par. ‘If we believed it to be dangerous, we would have acted immediately.”
Yet swimmers participating in the annual Emerald Challenge river race had to assess the possible health implications carefully before taking to the water.
News reports about the aged, overburdened sewerage system, which spills raw sewage into the river, or allows it to seep into the water table, hardly raise a response these days.
Seftel says this is being addressed with a new sewerage system.
The current system, installed more than 100 years ago, has become outdated. Seftel says: ‘The problem, apart from the fact that the pumps and the pipes are hopelessly aged, is that we are receiving sewage from both Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni as well. The new plans allow for sewage to be received in a low-lying area near Vanderbijlpark, and plans are to be implemented in a phased-in programme.”
This new plant is valued at R600-million, of which the Gauteng government has already committed R50-million to kick-start the project. The outstanding amount still has to be sourced.
Will this be completed along with the other projects, pre-2010?
‘No,” Seftel explains, ‘although some phases will be. At the moment feasibility studies, the environmental impact assessment and the detail design are being undertaken.”
Sedibeng is Gauteng’s fourth-largest water consumer because of the high incidence of heavy manufacturing industries.
Seftel explains that improving the water quality is seen as a project of national significance.
‘Overall, this can impact on cost reduction, improved health, increased tourism and the growth we all would like to see,” she concludes.