Rustenburg faces ongoing water woes amidst infrastructure delays

Q
What is the current status of the Bospoort Water Treatment Plant upgrade and why are there continued delays? - Platinum Weekly

A
The upgrade of the Bospoort Water Treatment Plant to a capacity of 24 megalitres has encountered significant setbacks, primarily due to alleged corruption involving the R25 million contract. This corruption has halted the project, which is a major factor in the broader water supply issues in Rustenburg. Currently, only the mechanical and electrical work remains to be completed. However, the Water Services Trust has yet to update the council on the progress. Without the additional 30 megalitres, Rustenburg will continue to face a water crisis. - councillor Luan Snyders

Q
What is the status of the Pilanesberg scheme, and how will additional water be sourced from the Vaalkop Dam? Are there extra raw water pumps installed for extraction? - Platinum Weekly

A
There is a growing concern that the reservoir, with a 25 megalitres capacity, would not be getting enough water to meet the current demand as projected by Magalies Water. The Democratic Alliance is still questioning the completion dates provided by Magalies Water, which were initially set for May of this year.

The main issue at hand is whether Magalies Water will be able to adequately supply the demand for the newly constructed reservoir coming from the Vaalkop Pilanesberg Scheme. This is crucial for ensuring proper demand management in the city’s distribution reservoirs.

Only time will tell if Magalies Water, as one of the water boards in Rustenburg, will be able to keep up with the demands through its newly-built reservoir and pipeline. - councillor Luan Snyders