On 29 January 2019, the City of Joburg, through Johannesburg Water, handed over ablution facilities to the Zamimpilo Informal Settlement community, effectively servicing 1 900 households.
This project came about as a result of Johannesburg Water’s Basic Services Programme, aimed at eradicating basic services backlogs in informal settlements.
R4 million was used to complete this phase of the project, which included connection to the existing sewer infrastructure and the installation of solar panels for lighting. Since the start of this project in June 2018, 30 labourers, 20 facilitators and 3 security personnel were employed from the community.
The handover of the first phase now allows for the completion of the second phase of the project in Zamimpilo, with a further 2 659 households to be serviced. This is due to be completed next month.
The savings achieved during the previous financial year have been redirected into bringing Diphetogo (real change) to communities like Zamimpilo by enhancing critical service delivery areas.
The budget for provision of basic water and sanitation services was increased to R75 million this financial year. And by the end of June, Johannesburg Water expects it would have provided 4 834 households in informal settlements access to basic sanitation.
Over 72 000 households in informal settlements are serviced by Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines, individual connections or ablution blocks. Through these programmes, the City says it is working hard to eradicate the use of chemical toilets as an only option. By July, this backlog is projected to be down by 2 000 households.
Executive Mayor of Joburg, Herman Mashaba said: “This pro-poor administration will continue to bring back dignity to our residents by tackling basic infrastructure backlogs, because an investment in infrastructure is an investment in the future. This is evident in addressing our R170 billion infrastructure backlog through the maintenance of traffic lights and street lights, repairing potholes, the capacitation of key City departments, as well as informal settlement upgrading.”
He urged residents to also take ownership of infrastructure in their communities and report all leaks to Johannesburg Water at 011 375 5555.
