The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Dr Zweli Mkhize visited Mondlo in Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal today, 04 May 2019 to assess progress made with regards to the provision of water supply infrastructure and waste reticulation projects currently under design and construction in Enyathi and Bhokwe villages in Mondlo, Abaqulusi Local Municipality. The Mondlo community is facing service delivery challenges due to old waterborne sewer and water purification systems which are characterised by water shortages and frequent pipe bursts, blockages, overflowing manholes, poor operations and maintenance of waste water treatment plant, water treatment plant and poor roads infrastructure. In view of the many challenges, the municipality prioritised water and sewage, but this does not suggest that those are the only challenges. In view of these challenges, Minister Mkhize was requested last year to pay a visit to eMondlo to check progress of the approved projects to be implemented as part of service delivery. Minister Mkhize had instructed CoGTA’s Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) to do an assessment with the view to undertaking the rehabilitation of the water and sanitation system in these settlements, which was characterised by frequent bursts, blockages and overflowing that was a health hazard to the community. The infrastructure projects at Enyathi and Bhokwe Villages entail the investigation of raw water sources, design and construction of water supply infrastructure and the Upgrading of Water Reticulation in the Enyathi and Bhokwe Villages. The Minister visited the water pump station in the Mtiki Dam which pumps to the purification plant today and is generally pleased with the progress that is being made. “The interventions are going well and the cooperation between the MISA, Department of Water and Sanitation, the province and municipality is very good. The capacity of the water pump will be upgraded and a bigger water distribution pipe to cater for current and future demands will be catered for. In addition, the water treatment plant catering for 65% of Abaqulusi population will also be upgraded to meet the demands. I have directed MISA to coordinate the water distribution master plan for the Zululand District Municipality (ZDM) and to allocate engineers and experts to ZDM as the water service authority.,” said Minister Mkhize on site. Due to increase in both formal dwellings and traditional dwellings over the years in the area of eMondlo, the demands for water are increasing. The challenge of ageing infrastructure does not make things easy, as it is not able to meet the increasing demand and pressure from communities. There are also efforts underway to rid the municipality of illegal connections to the water pipeline which has compromised the flow and capacity as intended and negatively affects paying residents who end up not getting water. The Minister engaged with communities in Bhokwe informing them about the infrastructure and its importance to communities. Minister urged communities to look after the infrastructure once it is completed and protect it from vandalism and theft. The Minister was accompanied by the Mayor of Zululand District Municipality Mr Thulasizwe Buthelezi and the Mayor of Abaqulusi Municipality Mr TP Sibiya, Inkosi Xulu, Councillors and izinduna.