Delivering her State of the Province Address, North West Premier Thandi Modise said significant progress has been made in increasing the number of households with access to clean running water, sanitation facilities and electricity.

Modise said the backlog has been reduced by 12 314 sanitation facilities shared among the four district municipalities. 2 500 rain water tanks will be distributed to the areas with less average rainfall and 56 boreholes are being drilled and will be ready by the end of the 2013/14 financial year.

“We have made progress. As part of the commitment made to the people of the North West, the Premier’s Legacy Projects seek to meet the municipalities halfway in the delivery of basic services,” said Premier Modise. R150 million has been set aside through the Premier Legacy Project to reduce the backlog in sanitation by the end of March.

The provincial government also signed memorandum of understanding with the Department of Water Affairs and Human Settlement last month to the value of R2 billion to accelerate the provision of clean water and sanitation.

Overview of North West water and sanitation projects

The North West provincial government has partnered with the Department of Water Affairs and the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality to construct the Dinokana Water Supply Phase 2 at Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality. The nearlyR21.5 million project is expected to be completed at the end of November this year.

R21.8 million has been set aside to the provision of sufficient clean water through the Mafikeng South Regional Water Supply Scheme.

The R22 000 000Setlagole Bulk Water Supply will be completed on 30 October 2014.