ERWAT set to pump R120 million into Vaal region in first three months
The Vaal economy, currently staggering under huge job cuts in the steel and engineering sectors, seems set for a cash injection of more than R120 million over the next three months as waste water treatment specialist company ERWAT rolls out its anti-sewage pollution strategy.
ERWAT MD Tumelo Gopane has already publicly committed to prioritising Vaal companies to implement his integrated strategy – described as world-class – and initial R141 million budget.
The R141 million for the ERWAT project is for the next three months but experts and activists already speculate that in the region of R800 million could be allocated in the new 2020 financial year after March next year by national Government.
Gopane has already warned of a shortterm controlled spike in spillages in Emfuleni and into the Vaal River due to unblocking of the region’s estimated 2600 kms of pipeline being systematically unblocked through clearing of manholes and hi-tech camera probes.
As the ERWAT implementation strategy gains traction from its formal starting date of 1 December, Gopane gave insight into how the R141 million for the current financial year (Dec-March 2020) would be spent.
The lion’s share of this projected budget is a huge R113 523 680.00 for equipment and plant hire for the massive network pipeline unblocking phase to be implemented shortly, according to official ERWAT budgetary estimates.
It is especially in this field that organised business such as the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce (GTCoC) is anxious to see local companies benefiting directly, but also in all related activities.
GTCoC Water and Sanitation spokesperson Rosemary Cloete-Anderson said this week it was vital that local service providers were utilised by ERWAT whrever possible.
“We accept the assurance by MD Gopane that he intends utilising the vast pool of resources and skills that are already in the Vaal region and can be utilised almost immediately subject to necessary procurement processes,” said Cloete-Anderson.
Gopane has assured stakeholders that service providers outside the Vaal will only be used where required skills and capability are not available in the Vaal region.
Security for the ERWAT operation and related Emfuleni municipal infrastructure will cost a projected R6million – including specialised riot control capability for possible community resistance. It is expected that as the SA National Defence Force finally withdraws from the Vaal end-January 2020, that a private security company will already be in place. Establishing a project office and control room in the Vaal to monitor all aspects of the hi-tech strategy in real-time will cost an estimated R5million. Processing Bio Solids has been allocated R4 800 000.00 and Environmental Monitoring is set to receive R1 176 320.00. As the implementing agent for the project, ERWAT itself will receive only R7 500 000.00 of the R141 million, according to the Department of Water and Sanitation.
ERWAT will also not receive the entire budget all at once, but will invoice the Gauteng Provincial Water and Sanitation Department as work is completed.
