Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Chris Dalton and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr David Nzunga. See attached picture here and video here.
– Kroonstad Wastewater Treatment Plant nearing completion within two months.
– Upgraded facility will help stop sewage pollution in the Vals River.
– DA to raise urgent need for qualified operators and ongoing oversight.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Moqhaka will raise the urgent need for qualified operational staff at the Kroonstad Waste Water Treatment Plant during this week’s portfolio committee meeting and continue to monitor progress towards the facility’s completion.
The rehabilitation of the Kroonstad Waste Water Treatment Plant is progressing well, as seen during a recent site visit, and is on track to be completed in approximately two months, marking a major step toward ending the discharge of raw sewage into the Vals River.
The project, which has faced significant delays due to contractor performance, funding challenges, and ageing infrastructure, is now in its final construction phase. Mechanical and electrical installations are mostly completed, and civil works on the primary treatment units are nearing completion.
Once operational, the upgraded plant will restore capacity to treat wastewater to national discharge standards set by the Department of Water and Sanitation. This will reduce pollution in the Vals River, improve downstream water quality, and protect public health and the environment for communities in Kroonstad and beyond.
We welcome the progress, but stress that construction alone is not enough:
The plant is progressing well and should be completed in approximately two months. However, one critical issue remains: the lack of competent staff to run the plant after completion. Without qualified operators and technicians in place from day one, we risk a new plant falling into disrepair again within months. This will be raised in a portfolio meeting this week.
The community deserves to see who will be running this plant, what qualifications they hold, and how they will be trained. We cannot afford another cycle of neglect because the human capacity was ignored while we focused on concrete and pipes.
Final commissioning and testing will follow immediately after construction. Residents will be notified of the commissioning date once testing is complete.