The Premier of the North West Province, Supra Mahumapelo, has stressed his administration’s commitment to the provision of water at the launch of a R300-million project to upgrade the Mmabatho Water Treatment Works.

“We are working around the clock to provide clean water on a daily basis to over 40 000 households in Mahikeng and surrounding villages,” said Mahumapelo speaking at the launch event.

“We also ask communities to use water sparingly and guard against vandalism as well as the theft of provided water infrastructure,” he continued.

The project is a three-way partnership between the National Department of Water and Sanitation, the Provincial Government and Mahikeng Local Municipality.

Mahumapelo stated government will also work to improve the living conditions of communities’ living through the Setsokotsane Programme that aims to make basic services available to all communities in the province.

The upgrading of Mmabatho Water Treatment Works will see the plant’s capacity to release clean water to communities in Mahikeng increase from 20 million litres to 30 million litres per day by November 2016.

In the region of 48 temporary employment opportunities will be created for local communities. The project will be implemented in phases and will also include:

• The construction of a 25 mega-litre reinforced reservoir at the existing Lokaleng pump station site
• The construction of approximately 11km of gravity pipelines from the new Lokaleng reservoir to directly serve certain parts of Mahikeng by gravity.