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Boreholes handed over in Eastern Cape

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Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Des van Rooyen has officially handed over boreholes to the community of OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.

COGTA has financed the drilling of about 19 boreholes in the province and eight of these are in OR Tambo District Municipality. They have been operational since 2016.

The handover of boreholes takes place in the year of the centenary of the late struggle stalwart, Oliver Reginald Tambo, after whom the municipality was named.

“A number of municipalities in the province have the challenge of water shortages, hence the intervention of COGTA through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) and Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG).

“The boreholes have been providing water to communities in respective areas and ensured that communities do not travel long distances to look for this precious source of life,” said the Minister on Monday.

The Minister also visited the Tsolo Waterborne Sanitation project, which is part of the CAPEX (capital expenditure) programme of the OR Tambo district.

This project is helping to reverse the current backlog in sanitation and it will cost about R148 million.

The Minister also inspected two boreholes in Mhlontlo Municipality, which provide water to thousands of people.

As government works to address water and sanitation backlogs, the Minister said it was important to keep communities abreast of developments so they can get their buy-in for plans meant for their development.

Minister Van Rooyen said government funds should be used prudently and efficiently.

“In as much as we need to finance our projects, we need to ensure that we don’t build white elephants that do not benefit the intended beneficiaries. Projects must be completed on time within specification so that government does not end up overspending unnecessarily,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.