Stakeholder Engagement And Management
During the 2023/2024 financial year, Vaal Central Water has demonstrated active and effective engagement with stakeholders through a series of initiatives, enhancing community relations and reinforcing the organisational brand. Some of the stakeholder engagement initiatives during the review period included:
Presidential Imbizo in the Northern Cape
On 9 May 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa held a District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo at the Batlharos Sports Stadium in Ga-Segonyane in the Northern Cape Province. This was the last Presidential Imbizo under the 6th Administration as the term for the current administration came to an end leading to the elections. The District Development Model is aimed at bringing all three spheres of government together to plan, budget and implement projects and programmes aimed at improving the lives of people in municipal areas.
Vaal Central Water’s Communications and Marketing team and employees from the Northern Cape Region participated in the services exhibitions, providing information on the operations of the water board and the name change of the Entity. The team took note of water related queries, provided informational material to community members, and also supplied much-needed hydration by distributing branded bottled water. Mr. Dez Fransman, a Board Member, as well as Executives and Managers of Vaal Central Water were on hand to listen to community members’ concerns about water related issues.
During the event, the President gave members of the community the opportunity to voice their concerns related to service delivery, some of which were addressed by his delegation of Ministers, Deputy Ministers and the Premier of the Northern Cape Province, Dr. Zamani Saul. The Premier also spoke on the Vaal Gamagara Pipeline Project. Phase One of the project had been completed by the former Sedibeng Water, which has since amalgamated with Vaal Central Water as the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Implementing Agent in this regard. Dr. Saul likewise announced that Phase Two of the project would begin soon, and that it will provide water to more than 200 villages in and surrounding Vaal Gamagara.
Hosting a Multi-stakeholder Engagement Session
The Board of Directors of Vaal Central Water, led by Adv. Makhosini Msibi hosted a two-day stakeholder engagement session with local Municipalities serviced by the Entity at the Willow Lake Protea Hotel in Bloemfontein on 15 and 16 November 2023. This stakeholder engagement session was attended by the provincial Department of Water and Sanitation; the Maluti-a- Phofung, Kopanong and Mantsopa Local Municipalities; members of the business sector; and community members representing water and sanitation issues and the Minister’s intervention projects in the listed municipalities. Also in attendance were the Vaal Central Water Executives led by the Chief Executive, Dr. Limakatso Moorosi.
This stakeholder engagement session resulted from a resolution taken during the Maluti-a-Phofung Water Crisis Steering Committee meeting held on 18 October 2023. The meeting had resolved that in-depth discussions had to be held for stakeholders to effectively work together to address water challenges affecting the aforementioned municipalities.The issues tabled for discussions during the session included (amongst others):
Alignment and interpretation of Service Level Agreements;
Accelerated service delivery;
Urgent intervention regarding water losses;
Crucial role clarification;
Stakeholder communication, interaction, education and reporting;
Development of contractors and empowerment strategies;
Performance management and monitoring, and Capacity analysis and skills audit in the water value chain are being met. The Fika Patso Dam provides 85% of the water used by Qwaqwa residents and industries in the area.At the event, Dr. Tseliso Ntili, Provincial Manager of the Department of Water and Sanitation in the Free State Province, reflected on the work done at the Fika Patso Water Purification Plant as proof that government takes issues of water and sanitation seriously. Vaal Central Water, the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Implementing Agent for this project, worked diligently round the clock to complete the project. Notable successes reported during the visit included:
The quality of work complied with the Department of Water and Sanitation’s norms and other engineering standards.
The project has successfully met the objectives and the expectations of the Department and Vaal Central Water.
Apart from the provision of basic water services to the community, the project is also catering for future industrial and domestic demand.
The Board Chairperson, Adv. Makhosini Msibi, closed the engagement session by reiterating on Vaal Central Water’s commitment to working in collaboration with the municipalities in the provision of water to communities.
Oversight Visit to the Fika Patso Water Purification Plant
Ms. Pinky Kekana, Deputy Minister in the Presidency, paid an oversight visit to the Fika Patso Water Purification Plant as part of the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Compact Imbizo on 9 November 2023. The site visit was aimed at observing progress made towards ensuring that Qwaqwa residents’ constitutional right of access to water, is being met. The Fika Patso Dam provides 85% of the water used by Qwaqwa residents and industries in the area.
At the event, Dr. Tseliso Ntili, Provincial Manager of the Department of Water and Sanitation in the Free State Province, reflected on the work done at the Fika Patso Water Purification Plant as proof that government takes issues of water and sanitation seriously. Vaal Central Water, the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Implementing Agent for this project, worked diligently round the clock to complete the project. Notable successes reported during the visit included:
The quality of work complied with the Department of Water and Sanitation’s norms and other engineering standards.The project has successfully met the objectives and the expectations of the Department and Vaal Central Water. Apart from the provision of basic water services to the community, the project is also catering for future industrial and domestic demand.
