12 Jul 2023

The North-South Carrier (NSC) 2.2 is a 253km long pipeline that runs parallel to the existing North-South Carrier 1 (NSC 1) from Palapye to Mmamashia Water Treatment Works.

Answering a question in Parliament on Monday, Minister of Lands and Water Affairs,  Dr Kefentse Mzwinila, said the project came with associated infrastructure such as treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, buildings and communications infrastructure.

He said the project was divided into three components.

The first contract was the construction of a pipeline and its associated works from the Masama well fields to the Mmamashia water treatment works comprising of an 83 km, 1 200mm diameter welded steel pipeline, construction of the Artesia water supply scheme and associated infrastructure, construction of Dibete water supply scheme and associated infrastructure and construction of Radisele water supply scheme and associated infrastructure.

He said the second contract was the construction of a pipeline from Mahalape water treatment works to the Masama wellfields. He said it covered the construction of a 90.3 km steel pipeline, a pump station at Serorome valley and the construction of a break pressure tank at Tewane.

He said the third component included the construction of a 79.6 km pipeline from Palapye to Mahalapye water treatment works offtake towards the service reservoir in Mahalapye.

Dr Mzwinila also noted that the (NSC) 2.2 employed 1 308 people out of which 867 of whom were from villages through where the pipeline passed.

He said 24 workers had their contracts terminated prematurely for different reasons such as diesel theft, misconduct, assault, insubordination and reporting to work under the influence of alcohol.

Dr Mzwinila said 10 of the cases were resolved at the labour offices in Mahalapye and Palapye. He said there were no funds within the contract sum set aside for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He said contractors and village leaders agreed on projects based on their impact, prevailing needs and affordability.

He said contractors may not be able to do a project in each village due to affordability of such projects as they had to be agreed by both parties.

Mahalapye West MP, Mr David Tshere, had asked the minister to appraise Parliament on the construction of the NSC 2.2 pipeline from Palapye to Mahalapye and Mahalapye to Mmamashia.

He further asked the minister to state the total number of employment created and the number of those that came from local areas where the pipeline passed.

MP Tshere also wanted to know the number of employees whose contracts were terminated prematurely, the number of cases that went through a conflict resolution mechanism such as the labour office or Industrial Court.

The MP also wanted to know the amount set aside for CSR and the guiding principle in terms of CSR.

He also asked if the contractors had to undertake a CSR project in all the villages that the pipe passed through. ENDS