Vaal project budget ‘at advanced stage’ – DWS
Unlocking the full R1,2 billion budget over three years for the stalled Vaal sewage pollution clean-up project is said to be at an advanced stage en route for National Treasury approval, according to sources familiar with the process.
By Craig Kotze
Unlocking the full R1,2 billion budget over three years for the stalled Vaal sewage pollution clean-up project is said to be at an advanced stage en route for National Treasury approval, according to sources familiar with the process.
Without referring to specific amounts, Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson Sputnik Ratau told Vaalweekblad this week that budget approval was “at an advanced stage” for the mammoth multi-departmental and co-operative governance project.
“The process is at an advanced stage awaiting the signature of the Director-General of the Department of Water and Sanitation for submission to the National Treasury,” said Ratau.
It is still unclear whether Ratau was referring to only R341million promised by a previous Minister of Water and Sanitation or to the envisaged total R1,2billion budget referred to by Government when the Army was originally deployed in December 2018.
But reliable sources close to the process told Vaalweekblad a “first tranche” of possibly R400million could be released as soon as this week with other tranches of what remained of the R1,2billion budget – if approved by Treasury – in due course or as considered necessary.
This follows a week of feverish activity politically and by officials to resolve the growing crisis around the stalled project while sewage pollution reaches record levels in the Vaal region and in the Vaal River system.
Tourism and business confidence in the Vaal region has been ruined by the ongoing crisis, according to business and activists.
Intense advocacy by key roleplayers such as Emfuleni Executive Mayor Gift Moerane, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) in recent weeks and months have now resulted in an apparent solution to the impasse.
The GTCoC has been especially vocal in piling pressure on Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to have R341 million already promised by her predecessor before the May 8 elections released and get project participants working again.
Releasing the budget has been complicated by a new Minister of Water and Sanitation and also a new Director-General of the Water and Sanitation Department, sources said.
