The Joe Gqabi District Municipality (JDGM) Mayoral Integrated Development (IDP) and Budget Outreach Programme continued yesterday, 17 September, in Elundini Local Municipality. The outreach, held at the Nqanqarhu Town Hall, served to interact with the community, reflect on service delivery issues that were raised in the last IDP and Budget Outreach engagements and develop plans that will inform the budget for the 2026/27 financial year.
JGDM Executive Mayor, Councillor Nomvuyo Mposelwa, gave an extensive outline of the current water supply and sanitation status across Elundini, along with highlighting focus plans to address the challenges faced in the area. Areas such as Setabataba, Ditaung, Dinokong, Basieng and Refefle have functional water taps with running water and access to bulk water supply systems – an achievement lauded as significant. New Rest, Shiyabazali, Thembisa, Rhubisana, Emaflattin, Phuthini, Nqalweni, and Lehana’s Pass are places supported through temporary water tanks, with a sustainable and long-term solution currently being planned. Challenges including old infrastructure and vandalism see communities like Thutsing, Sathube and Thabakgubedu relying solely on local springs. However, Cllr Mposelwa explained that “we are taking proactive steps and assessments to evaluate water sources in these areas to determine the
necessary maintenance needs and water sources can be developed into more functional systems”.
In Ntabelanga, progress with the repair of a leaking pressed steel tank and testing to ensure reliability and efficiency is underway. In addition, comprehensive analysis of water service availability and evaluation of existing infrastructure has commenced at Sathube Village.
As part of the District Municipality’s initiative to alleviate water supply backlogs within Elundini, projects in 5 villages, namely Thabatlala, Gobho, Makhahlanyeng, Westhoek and Thaleni, have been launched with the objective of drilling, equipping boreholes and providing community stand pipes. The Elundini Rural Water Supply Programme has been allocated R7 million to cover over 100 villages and construction will begin imminently.
While water has been a challenge, sanitation has been an area of success with the construction of 1240 sanitation units, exceeding the 1000 target. This has increased the percentage of households with access to basic sanitation to 94.6%. Furthermore, R12 million has been budgeted for the Elundini Rural Sanitation Programme that will see the construction of 1589 VIP toilets, with 347 toilets completed so far. Seven local businesses have been contracted – benefiting from employment opportunities. In Maclear, R5 million has been invested for sewer infrastructure upgrades and R8.3 million has been used in Ugie to upgrade internal sewer lines, constructing two pump stations and improving the wastewater treatment. “These projects are not just about infrastructure but jobs, empowerment and dignity”, said Cllr Mposelwa.
Issues raised by the community were mainly related to water and sanitation, with Zodwa Mamphandise from Ward 11 sharing that “as the community we just can’t wait for all these projects to end so that we no longer have issues with water”.
Sector departments present included the Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Social Development, Community Safety, Agriculture and Home Affairs.
Senqu Local Municipality is set to be the last stop of the current round of IDP roadshows on a date that will be confirmed in due course.
