Latest news with #RegionalBulkInfrastructureGrant
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
Sewage pollution, vandalism to keep Nelson Mandela Bay beach closed until summer
Six months down the line, New Brighton Beach in Nelson Mandela Bay is likely to remain closed until summer as the metro works to rectify sewage pollution and vandalism at the popular seaside facility. In December 2024, the Nelson Mandela Bay metro closed New Brighton Beach due to dangerous levels of contamination after vandalism led to a sewage spill at the nearby Fishwater Flats Sewage works. On Thursday, metro spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said the beach would be opened 'before the upcoming summer season'. However, he said that since the closure, beach facilities had been vandalised and the damage would be repaired only in the next financial year. 'The repairs to the Fishwater Flats Water Treatment Works are envisaged to conclude by the end of this month,' he said. Soyaya said the beach would be reopened once there were 'satisfactory results regarding levels'. According to the Auditor-General's report into municipal finances for 2023/2024, Nelson Mandela Bay was the only metro that received a regional bulk infrastructure grant, which is aimed at improving bulk water and sanitation infrastructure. The metro, however, underspent the grant by 41% due to two capital projects that were not launched because of 'implementation challenges', the report said. In its budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, the metro said: 'The Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) has been allocated to the municipality only for the 2025/26 financial year to the amount of R390-million. This grant was firstly allocated to the city with effect from the 2023/24 [medium term], to deal with water drought-related issues that the city has been confronted with and will, with effect from the 2026/27 financial year, be no longer made available to the City.' Cable theft Final treated effluent is released from Fishwater Flats at two points: New Brighton Beach pier and Papenkuils River canal, but the theft of electrical cables that supplied power to the plant and essential equipment interrupted the treatment process of this effluent. In turn, this led to a massive spill of raw sewage into the sea. It has been reported in municipal statements that R18.8-million has been spent to repair Fishwater Flats. In October last year, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Sello Seitlholo visited the facility. He said the water treatment works had 'experienced major destruction to a cost of almost R5-million; the repair is estimated to cost four times that. This has heavily impacted the work being done, which in turn impacts the quality of water being treated and discharged. 'I am fundamentally concerned about the level of vandalism and theft that is happening here. The municipality is losing a couple of million due to theft, and to replace that, it costs them four times what is lost,' he said. 'Dysfunctionality' The DA's mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay for the upcoming local government elections, Retief Odendaal, said the problem went further than Fishwater Flats. 'Wastewater treatment facilities in Nelson Mandela Bay continue to face serious challenges, exposing the complete dysfunctionality of the current ANC-led administration. Years of neglect and failure to maintain, upgrade, and protect critical sewerage infrastructure have led to persistent pollution of our waterways and coastline. 'While the municipality claims that pollution levels are now acceptable and plans to reopen the beach at the end of June, our inspection today indicates that this is highly unlikely,' he said. The municipality did, however, indicate on Thursday that it would open the beach only 'before summer.' 'I have now written to the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, urging her department to intervene directly in Nelson Mandela Bay and assist in bringing all wastewater treatment works up to the required standards,' Odendaal said. Among the findings made against the municipality by the Auditor-General was that none of the wastewater treatment facilities has valid licences. 'Given the municipality's track record of failing to provide transparent and reliable water quality data, we have called on the minister's department to conduct its independent water quality testing at New Brighton Beach,' Odendaal said. The municipality doesn't make water quality results public unless it receives a Promotion of Access to Information Act application. 'Dangerous contamination' In March this year, ASC Consultants published an independent report showing that between November and December last year, the sea at New Brighton Beach was dangerously contaminated. According to the report, its results showed 'high contamination levels [that] posed significant health risks to beachgoers'. This was on 2 November. Two weeks later, the numbers had come down, but were still high. In December, contamination shot up again. Analysts compiling the report for ASC warned that sewage pollution was now 'posing severe health risks to swimmers and require[s] immediate remedial action.' A test after the beach was closed showed record-high contamination levels. Analysts issued another warning: 'This beach exhibited alarmingly high levels of contamination in the third trial… These figures exceed the Blue Flag standards by 40 and 92 times, respectively. Such extreme contamination levels suggest a direct influx of untreated sewage, likely exacerbated by an ageing infrastructure and stormwater runoff. 'The health risks here are severe, rendering the beach unsafe for recreational use. Community members who use this beach for spiritual purposes, as observed during one of the visits when samples were collected, are at significant risk of exposure to waterborne pathogens,' the report concluded. Odendaal said the DA would do its own sampling. 'The problems are not limited to Fishwater Flats. Sewage spills, failing stormwater drains and dysfunctional wastewater facilities are widespread across the city. The municipality bears primary responsibility for this persistent pollution, and the people of Nelson Mandela Bay have a right to expect transparent reporting and urgent action,' he said. DM
The South African
05-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Water shortages in Brits to soon be a thing of the past
The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo Image via Instagram: david_mahlobo Home » Water shortages in Brits to soon be a thing of the past The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo Image via Instagram: david_mahlobo On 5 June 2025, the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo will conduct an oversight visit to the Brits Water Treatment Works. Brits WTW falls under the Madibeng Local Municipality, where Mahlobo will be assessing the progress made on upgrading the facility. 'The deputy minister will be accompanied by the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Gaoage Oageng Molapisi', said Water Department spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa. The executive mayor of Madibeng Municipality, Douglas Maimane, will also be in attendance. He will be flanked by traditional leaders and other dignitaries at the event said Mavasa. 'The upgrade project of Brits Water Treatment Works is worth more than R80 million fundedby the Department of Water and Sanitation through its Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant,' said Mavasa. The grant is implemented by Magalies Water Board. Once the project is completed, it will benefit over 75 373 households in the Brits area and surroundings. Mavasa believes this will be a welcomed relief since Brits and other areas nearby are constantly affected by water shortages. According to Mavasa, the project is practically completed. However she cautioned that there are final touches being made on the civil, mechanical and electrical works elements. In order for the upgrades to be successful, all the elements need to be completed said Mavasa. 'As of this month, civil engineering works are at 97%, mechanical engineering at 89%, while electrical engineering works stand at 70%,' she continued. The overall completion of the upgrading project is expected to be completed at the end of August 2025. The water department said this is the deadline they are working towards. Today Mahlobo will be assessing if this goal is attainable. IS YOUR AREA AFFECTED BY WATER SHORTAGES? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
‘Enough is enough' – Saftu threatens mass protests over NMB public fund mismanagement
The South African Federation of Trade Unions in Gqeberha said on Wednesday that it was 'deeply outraged, though not surprised' by the Auditor-General's damning findings on the Nelson Mandela Bay metro. The organisation has threatened mass action as a response to 'incompetence, mismanagement and a total disregard for working-class residents'. The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has threatened the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality with mass action to protest against what it has called the current coalition government's 'incompetence, mismanagement and total disregard for working-class residents'. Saftu secretary Mziyanda Mcanda said a meeting had been held with the Speaker of Council, Eugene Johnson, who had promised to address their concerns. But, he added, the latest Auditor-General's report on Nelson Mandela Bay was deeply shocking. 'The report confirms what workers, the unemployed and the poor have long known — that this municipality is being run into the ground by incompetence, mismanagement and a total disregard for working-class communities,' said Mcanda. Grant spending Despite being the only metro to receive the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) — a critical intervention aimed at improving bulk water and sanitation infrastructure — the municipality underspent the grant by 41%, according to this report. 'This is criminal negligence in a city facing chronic water insecurity and failing sanitation systems. Communities in KwaZakhele, Motherwell and Chatty continue to suffer water cuts and sewerage overflows, while the money meant to fix these issues lies idle due to so-called implementation challenges,' Mcanda said. 'Even more damning is the fact that 67% of senior management posts are vacant, the highest of any metro in the country. This leadership vacuum reflects a collapsing state — one that is either unwilling or unable to deliver even the most basic services. Workers inside the municipality are overburdened, demoralized and left without leadership or direction, while politically connected elites scramble for tenders and positions,' he added. Motherwell housing project He highlighted the plight of residents who had been promised housing through the Motherwell NU30 housing project, calling it 'another insult to our people'. 'The Auditor-General confirms that houses were approved for handover despite structural defects and no electricity. These are not homes; they are shells. People are being handed keys to hardship, not dignity. This is a systemic crisis. It cannot be reduced to administrative failures; it is the direct result of a capitalist state that serves private profiteers and political elites, not the working class. While public money goes unspent or wasted, our communities suffer hunger, evictions, floods and disease,' he said. Mcanda said the organisation wanted the urgent filling of senior vacancies with competent, accountable and community-oriented personnel. 'No more cadre deployment for corruption,' he added. They are also demanding the institution of a forensic investigation into the RBIG underspending and NU30 housing project, 'with consequences for those responsible'. He said they also wanted an emergency summit of affected communities, labour and civil society 'to chart a democratic, people-centred turnaround strategy for the metro'. Saftu's concerns were also echoed in a letter by faith leaders in the metro which was sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa in May. 'Enough is enough. We will not allow this municipality to continue failing our people. If these demands are not urgently addressed, Saftu Gqeberha will mobilise for mass action,' Mcanda added. DA says budget is morally indefensible Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said the proposed 2025/26 Nelson Mandela Bay budget was unrealistic and morally indefensible, as it passes the buck to ratepayers to 'fund the mismanagement of our inept ANC-led municipality'. In a pre-budget press conference held on Wednesday, Odendaal said the metro was haemorrhaging millions of rands due to its inability to spend grant funding. The budget will be discussed in a council meeting on Thursday. 'Over the last two financial years, the ANC-led administration's dysfunction has lost a staggering R900-million in grant funding meant to build roads, and water and electricity infrastructure. 'This inability to spend is a crisis and, as of April this year, the municipality had only spent 38% (R752-million) of its R1.934-billion capital expenditure budget. 'Against the backdrop of this continued mismanagement, the tariff increases in the budget are morally indefensible. Imagine losing money and then asking ratepayers to balance the books,' Odendaal added. He further said that the budget as presented to council was only funded because it assumes a 76% collection rate while the average collection rate for the 2024/2025 financial year is 72.15%. 'Ward-based budgets are also a major concern as very little budget has been made available for certain wards. The DA believes every community has the right to a fair allocation of resources,' he said. Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Cllr Babalwa Lobishe, held a mayoral member committee meeting on Wednesday to address the findings of the Auditor-General, and stressed the critical importance of enhanced planning and accountability within all departments. She promised last week that she would address the vast underspending of Treasury grants at the city council meeting on Thursday. 'By Monday, a consultative report must be ready for virtual discussion to guide Wednesday's submission. With only three months left until the Auditor-General's review, we cannot afford to be caught off guard,' she said. Departments have also been directed to review current contracts, identify possible risks and define clear actions to avoid repeated deviations or contract extensions. 'Changing our culture doesn't take time; it takes consistency. If we focus on efficient, daily execution, our teams will adapt and we will start seeing real progress,' she concluded. DM
