Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
WATER SCHEME HONOURS OLIVER TAMBO 18 OCTOBER 1996
The Bizana District Rural Water Scheme in the Eastern Cape will be opened by the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Prof Kader Asmal, MP, on 19 October 1996. The opening falls in the National Poverty Eradication Week (October 17-24), which places heavy emphasis on rural basic needs.
The Scheme is one of the largest of 58 schemes included in the Presidential Lead Water Projects started in the Transkei region in 1994. All but one of those schemes have now been completed bringing water to over 103 000 people. Paid work of 230 000 person days was created and 9 00 person days of training given as part of the project.
The Bizana Scheme is dedicated to the late Oliver Tambo, who was President of the ANC until 1990. Guests will include the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Mr Raymond Mhlaba, and Mrs Adelaide Tambo, MP, widow of the former president of the ANC. Representatives of the Government of Finland, which assists the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in Water Law Review-related research, will also attend.
The initial phase of this scheme started on 1 March 1995 and it was completed in April 1996. Close to 14 000 people around the villages of Ntshamati, Khayamnandi, eMonti, Ntsingizi, Ntozelo and Redoubt will be provided with water. The number of beneficiaries is expected to rise to over 19 000 by the year 2010. To the women of this region the completion of this project means an end to the long walks to the river to fetch unhealthy water.
Close to 2 000 local people have benefitted through job opportunities provided by the scheme, which cost approximately R5 600 000. The Bizana project, as all the community water supply schemes implemented by the Department, addresses poverty by using labour intensive construction methods. On-the-job training contributes towards a better future for many in these communities. In this way the Department illustrates its commitment to help eradicate poverty among the impoverished people of South Africa.
On this occasion, Prof Asmal will deliver a special message from President Nelson Mandela.