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The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Deputy Minister Pamela Tshwete will officially hand over 10 water trucks to the Amathole District Municipality (ADM) at Calgary Conference Centre situated along the N6 just outside East London on Monday, 17 September 2018. This initiative is part of the department’s interventions to mitigate the current drought affecting communities around ADM.

The department has allocated ADM R30million from its Water Service Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) budget for drought relief throughout the district.

R15million was used to purchase water trucks and the other R15million was used to drill and equip boreholes to address water shortages in Amathole District Municipality.

Most of these boreholes have been drilled in Mnquma around the Teko Fihla and Teko Kona areas, with only three that have been equipped in the area.  Additional three boreholes were drilled and equipped at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) whilst an existing borehole at Toleni was also equipped as part of the drought intervention.

Four of the six local municipalities under ADM’s jurisdiction, namely, Mbhashe, Mnquma, Ngqushwa and Raymond Mhlaba will receive two trucks each. While the Great Kei and Amahlathi will get one each.

The carrying capacity of each water truck is 12 000 litres of water. At 25 liters per person, one load will be able to supply 480 people per day.

The number of trucks allocated per local municipality is determined by the relative magnitude of each local municipality and the demand for water carting. Where necessary, the trucks will be moved around the district to serve the areas with the greatest need.

Issued by The Department of Water and Sanitation