Small relief for local suppliers as they get appointed to deliver water tanks throughout Eastern Cape
MEDIA STATEMENT
10 April 2020
Small relief for local suppliers as they get appointed to deliver water tanks throughout Eastern Cape
Small businesses in the country have beared the brunt of the National Lockdown that has been enforced to flatten the curve of the coronavirus that claimed the lives of 24 people in the country.
However, some Eastern Cape suppliers have been able to breathe a sigh of relief as the Department of Water and Sanitation has kept them busy to enable them to put food on the table in their families.
The Department, through its entity, Amatola Water Board has been rolling out its water tanks and tankers programme to water distressed communities and this opened opportunities for suppliers in the province to participate in the programme.
Following the declaration of National State of Disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa due to the increasing number of novel COVID-19 infections, the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu instructed her Department and its entities to urgently dispatch water tanks and tankers to rural areas and informal settlements.
The Department and Amatola Water Board have ensured local beneficiation by utilizing local suppliers to distribute water to their localities. Local contractors at the level of local municipalities and municipal wards benefited through building of stands to install water tanks throughout the province.
The water tanks have been delivered as follows: Alfred Nzo District Municipality (563), Amathole District Municipality (516), Buffalo City Metro (271), Chris Hani District Municipality (803), Joe Gqabi District Municipality (112), Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (108), O.R Tambo District Municipality (978), Sarah Baartman District Municipality (953).
In addition to water tanks, a total of 171 water tankers (trucks) have been distributed in various parts of the province thus far inclusive of water tankers from Water Service Authorities and donors in the province. The Department, through Amatola Water Board, has augmented the service of water tankers by procuring 51 water tankers. These water tankers are distributed to assist in the provision of water and to enable communities to wash their hands frequently as required in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
We appeal to communities to continue using water sparingly.
End
Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation
For media releases, speeches and news visit the Water & Sanitation portal at: www.dwa.gov.za
