Human Settlements
With regard to the Waterworks PHP Project of the Theewaterskloof Municipality:
- When was the project started, (b) how much has been budgeted for the project, (c) what is the total number of beneficiaries of the project, (d) what progress has been made with the project and (e) what is causing delays with the project?
- During 2011 the Theewaterskloof Municipality identified the Beverley Hills site as part of the Waterworks development area to be developed. The project implementation funding was approved by my Department during June 2017.
- Total funding approval for implementation: R 8 244 030
Date approved: June 2017
Intended Output: Internal services for 164 sites Expenditure: planning and professional fees: R 2 807 673.84
Project Manager: Theewaterskloof
The total approved funding on the Department’s Business Plan for 2019-20 was R9, 84 million and R 2, 0 million for the 2020-21 financial year.
- The project comprises of two phases, namely Phase 1 Beverly Hills Upgrading of Informal Settlements for 164 sites and Phase 2 Waterworks Upgrading of Informal Settlements for 569 sites.
The beneficiaries have been identified from the Waterworks area.
- This is the third time since this project was approved in 2017 that a tender process is being embarked on.
Tender 1 – During 2017 a contractor was appointed for the installation of bulk services. The contract was subsequently cancelled due to underperformance.
Tender 2 – This tender was advertised during 2018. Delays occurred as the residents of Lost City refused to relocate. As a result of the delays, the tender validity lapsed mid-2019 and the process had to be restarted. Given the fact that the site was still occupied, appointing a contractor would have been a fruitless exercise.
Tender 3 - The third tender was advertised during November 2019. The matter has since been submitted to the municipality’s Tender Evaluation Committee and thereafter to the Tender Adjudication Committee for the awarding to the successful tenderer. The matter was to have been finalised by 31 March 2020.
- The first phase is to be implemented. The households in Lost City started occupying the site during late 2017 and to date, there are 103 structures.
The land was clear at the time of identification of the project.
The municipality as well as my department engaged with the community to relocate to the identified site. During the engagements, only 28 families agreed to relocate. The municipality has since instituted legal proceeding for the eviction of the remaining occupants.
