The dignity of the Kliprand community on the West Coast is set to be restored after the launch of the Kliprand Water and Sanitation project on 15 October 2021.

Through the Water Service and Sanitation Grant (WISG), the Department of Water and Sanitation provided funding of R13 million for the Kliprand project. This led to the removal of 56 pit latrines, construction of a new oxidation wastewater plant, a reverse osmosis system, and a reservoir.

This is one of many interventions that the department is providing in this region. Addressing the community during the launch Boniswa Hene, Western Cape Actng Provincial Head said: “It is a privilege for DWS to have supported the construction of the Kliprand Sanitation and Water Project, which will enable over fifty households to have access to decent sanitation facilities”.

The 77-year-old wheelchair-bound Gogo Beukes is one of the beneficiaries of the new ablution facilities. Beukes thanked the DWS and Matzikama Local Municipality for the intervention.

“Thanks to the Government for providing us with these toilets”, she said.

Despite the Government’s efforts to provide decent sanitation, vandalism of infrastructure has become a huge problem that disrupts service delivery. Some of this unacceptable behavior includes the theft of metal material for selling to scrap yards or the disposal of inappropriate materials in toilets.

“As Government, we urge communities to stop vandalizing infrastructure.”