The MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Saki Mokoena, is leading a high-level delegation of municipal leaders, including Executive Mayors, and senior management officials, on an official benchmarking and investment mission in Shanghai and Jiangsu Province, China.
The visit aims to identify innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective infrastructure solutions that can address the persistent water and sanitation challenges confronting municipalities across the Free State province, with particular focus on wastewater treatment systems and bulk infrastructure capacity.
Municipal wastewater treatment works across the province are currently under severe strain. Most of the existing systems rely on outdated waterborne sewerage technologies, including conventional activated sludge processes and bio-filtration systems that were designed decades ago and have not kept pace with the rapid population growth, urban expansion, and increasing service delivery demands.
The Department of Human Settlements continues to provide financial and technical support to municipalities for the development of internal water and sewer reticulation infrastructure linked to housing projects.
To date, the Department has invested approximately R700 million towards the installation of water and sewer infrastructure in Metsimaholo Local Municipality, particularly in Mooidraai and Sasolburg properties. Despite these investments, the current wastewater systems remain incapable of accommodating further expansion and future housing developments without substantial upgrades.
“This mission represents an important step in repositioning the Free State towards modern, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure development. We are committed to learning from international best practices and exploring innovative modular technologies that can be adapted to South African conditions. Our responsibility is to ensure that our communities receive reliable services supported by infrastructure that is compliant, future-fit, and capable of unlocking economic growth and sustainable human settlements”. Said MEC Mokoena.
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