Residents of KwaNomzamo and the wider Kouga region in Humansdorp are set to benefit from a newly upgraded wastewater treatment works, a R49-million project designed to increase capacity and improve sanitation services.
The official visit to the KwaNomzamo Wastewater Treatment Works by Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo, and local municipal officials yesterday highlighted the upgrade as a significant step forward. This development comes amidst widespread challenges facing the majority of water treatment plants in the Eastern Cape, which are plagued by delays, vandalism, and maintenance issues.
The KwaNomzamo plant, which had struggled to operate at full capacity for years, has been recently refurbished. A Kouga official confirmed that the plant is currently in its testing phase and will soon be handed over from the contractors.
A key focus of the upgrade, officials stated, is enhanced security. This is a direct response to the vandalism that has crippled many similar facilities across the province and the country.
“In general, wastewater treatment plants across the province have been vandalized or are not functioning at the capacity that they need to function,” a Kouga official said, citing ongoing problems with raw sewage flowing into the ocean in areas like Kareedouw and similar situations in Buffalo City.
Deputy Minister Seitlholo addressed the vandalism crisis, stating that the Department of Water and Sanitation is aware of ongoing acts of sabotage. He expressed a belief that internal networks and criminal syndicates are often to blame.
“Unfortunately, most of the times we see these sorts of vandalism… we believe fundamentally… that these are done by employees either that work for the municipality or that have got connections with the water tanker mafias,” Seitlholo said. “It certainly is not an outside job.”
The national department is now tightening its oversight. “We are intensifying our efforts… where we are going to begin to prosecute municipalities that are polluting our water resources,” the Deputy Minister added.
At the KwaNomzamo plant, these concerns have been met with action. New layers of security have been implemented, including 24-hour patrols, CCTV cameras, and reinforced walls. Deputy Minister Seitlholo emphasized that this kind of investment is crucial for protecting not just the infrastructure, but the community’s access to safe and reliable sanitation. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to bring cleaner and improved sanitation to thousands of residents.