21 Sep 2020

Kgosi David Mattheys of Rappelspan in the Kgalagadi District has urged a company contracted to undertake a desalination plant project in the area to complete it within scope and on time.

Speaking during a ground breaking ceremony of the groundwater desalination plant recently, Kgosi Mattheys said in the past, contractors failed to deliver on a number of projects, thereby denying residents an opportunity to benefit from developments earmarked for the area.

He said contractors had a tendency of starting projects and abandoning them, adding that it was critical to improve project management so that projects could be delivered timely.

Kgosi Mattheys said water was a basic need of life hence the project was very important for the village as it would help to alleviate the dire water situation in the area.

Indispensable Engineering representative, Mr Osman Kontle, said the project would be conducted by a citizen-owned company in conjunction with a Germany-based company as a technical partner. 

The company would design a six-metre container raised system, which would entail a reverse osmosis process. 

He said the desalination plant would be equipped with 44 solar panels. Furthermore, Mr Kontle divulged that the company would employ eight members of the community for duration of the project. 

He added that some casual labourers would also be engaged as and when their services were required. 

The project is expected to be completed and handed over by December. 

For his part, Struizendam’s Kgosi Isaac Titus appreciated the new development, which he said would go a long way in improving people’s livelihoods. 

He said the village was established in 1941 and people had been using pit wells, which were labour intensive. 

He appreciated government for the new development that he said would assist them with water.

On other issues, Kgosi Titus called for road infrastructure development. 

He said road network connectivity to other villages would gel well with the new water desalination plant to facilitate developments in the area. 

Rappelspan/Vaalhoek Councilor Phillipus Morerwa also appreciated the development which he said would go a long way in improving livelihoods. 

He said Kgalagadi District had a lot of farming potential, but water challenges remained a setback. 

Construction of the water desalination plants in BORAVAST cluster was a regional project involving the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. Ends