The Nelson Mandela Bay business community is deeply disappointed at the announcement on Tuesday (February 9) by infrastructure and engineering committee executive director Ali Said that there had been an “indication” that National Treasury would provide only R450-million of a requested R1.6-billion.
“This sum represents only 28% of the amount deemed essential to secure adequate water for the metro and its growing population and expanding industrial base,” Port Elizabeth Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry strategic resources task force chairman Angus Clark said.
“Such an amount would cover nothing significant in terms of the relief and funding needed,” Clark said.
“Bearing in mind the ‘indication’- but in no way accepting it as final or irrevocable or halting intensive lobbying and motivation for the further R1.15-billion to be approved – all parties now need to act extremely urgently to utilise the funding that seems to be available.
“In the case of Percci – and its membership of close to 800 businesses in all spheres – we would urge that the fast-tracking of the Nooitgedacht low level scheme should be prioritized as it will provide the most wide-ranging benefit,” Clark said.
“As the R450-million indicated allocation would fall short of the R650-million required for this fast-tracking, a priority effort must be made to find the R200-million shortfall.
“At present Nooitgedacht brings water from the Gariep Dam through the Sundays River Valley to provide water for areas like Uitenhage, Despatch, Deal Party and Blue Water Bay. An urgent extension of this project is essential and the most efficient way to provide a long-term solution.
“In addition, the positive side of the Nooitgedacht scheme is that it involves a tremendous amount of construction and this would be a job creator, fulfilling the objectives of government. This would include civil engineering work and laying new pipelines.”
Clark said the chamber’s strategic resources task team – which, together with the metro council, has spearheaded the motivation and contact with government – would meet urgently.
As the R450-million seemed at this stage to be only an “indicated” figure (according to Said), urgent contact would be made by government – particularly national Treasury and the national Department of Disaster Management – to press for the full funding or substantially more. This should include the total funding costs of the Nooitgedacht scheme of R650-million.
“Ultimately all the projects listed in the disaster management project plan need to be approved and are extremely important. This will support the future growth in the city and the Coega Industrial Development Zone.
“The decision-makers on the approval of this funding need to look at the long-term viability of the city.
“This means securing water for the health, welfare and social stability of all citizens and ensuring we can sustain present business to safeguard employment and being able to attract future investment and so create more jobs.”
Clark said Percci members were already contributing to savings amounting to millions of litres of water a week through improved efficiencies and fully backed a number of initiatives. These included supporting the metro-wide water-saving programme and a specific project to assist schools in stopping plumbing leaks and conserving water.
Alan Straton
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