/ 19 March 2008

Gauteng on course to supply clean water for all

The Gauteng provincial government is ''well on course'' to supply all households in the province with clean water by the end of this year. The local government department said in a statement: ''We are working closely with all municipalities in the province to ensure that all households have access to clean water.''

The Gauteng provincial government is ”well on course” to supply all households in the province with clean water by the end of this year.

The local government department said in a statement on Tuesday: ”We are working closely with all municipalities in the province to ensure that all households have access to clean water.

”We will also assist struggling municipalities to meet those targets, said spokesperson Themba Sepotokele.

Every household in an informal settlement would have a water tap within two metres of the dwelling.

Under the ”Water for Growth and Development” plan, said Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Lindiwe Hendricks, the province and its municipalities, had put more effort in curbing water loss by implementing different strategies aimed at educating the public to use water sparingly.

In the statement the minister called on all South Africans to use water sparingly to avoid a future crisis.

On Monday Hendricks launched the third phase of the Masibambane project, which aims to fast track delivery in the water sector and assist municipalities with budgeting, lobbying for funds and creating strategies for water conservation.

The European Union is funding the third phase of the project with around R1,25-billion to be used over the next three years. – Sapa