The City of Johannesburg recently handed over ablution facilities to the Zamimpilo Informal Settlement community, effectively servicing 1 900 households.

The project¸ which forms part of Johannesburg Water’s Basic Services Programme, was aimed at eradicating basic services backlogs in informal settlements.

The handover of the first phase of the project, which cost R4 million, will pave the way for the completion of the second phase with a further 2 659 households to be serviced.

Job creation

The project involved connection to the existing sewer infrastructure and the installation of solar panels for lighting. According to the City the project also helped to create jobs for the local community with 30 labourers, 20 facilitators and 3 security personnel employed from the community since the start of this project in June 2018.

Isaac Dhludhlu, Communication and Marketing Manager at Johannesburg Water, notes that the savings achieved during the previous financial year have been redirected into bringing Diphetogo (real change) to communities like Zamimpilo by enhancing critical service delivery areas.

Eradicating backlogs

“The budget for provision of basic water and sanitation services was increased to R75 million this financial year. And by the end of June, Johannesburg Water would have provided 4 834 households in informal settlements access to basic sanitation. Providing all households in the City of Johannesburg with basic access to water and sanitation is crucial,” he explains.

“Over 72 000 households in informal settlements are serviced by Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines, individual connections or ablution blocks. Through these programmes, the City is working hard to eradicate the use of chemical toilets as an only option. By July, this backlog will be reduced by 2 000 households,” Dhludhlu continues.

“I ask residents to also take ownership of infrastructure in their communities and report all leaks to Johannesburg Water,” he concluded.