9 to 10% of existing infrastructure services are not functional and reduce the national access from 95,2% to 86%, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa announced on the occasion of the presentation of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) vote in Parliament in Cape Town  yesterday, 11 June 2103.

“Therefore, as we deal with the current 4,8% backlog, we will also be addressing issues of dysfunctionality of some of our infrastructure,” said Molewa.

Molewa further unpacked the budget tabled earlier this year, which equalled R10,2 billion for 2013/2014, R12,4 billion for 2014/2015 and R15,5 billion for 2015/2016. “This is indeed a boost for our existing and future capital projects and I’m sure the real impact is and will be felt at provincial level.

In closing, Molewa added an update on efforts to deal with acid mine drainage in the Witwatersrand, reporting that the Department has completed the immediate solution in the Western Basin and stopped the uncontrollable decant in the same Western Basin. “We are now in our second phase of upgrading the Rand Uranium plant and we have started with the construction of a pump station and new water treatment plant in the Central Basin. This will ensure the Environmental Critical Level is not breached,” said Molewa, adding that the Eastern Basin is still at a safe level with construction of a new water treatment plant planned to commence by November 2014.