Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Whether electricity, sanitation, water and refuse removal services are provided to residents of KwaNonqaba, Mossel Bay; if not, (a) why not and (b) how will this be rectified; if so, (i) to what extent, (ii) what are the distances from their houses to where such services are available, and (iii) what are the (aa) quantity and (bb) quality of such services?
The Municipality report that the exception of certain recent informal settlements, all residents of Kwa-Nonqaba have access to electricity, sanitation, water and refuse removal services.
- There are approximately 1 500 un-electrified informal houses in Mossel Bay and the numbers are growing due to continuous in-migration.
- Informal houses are electrified in accordance with Department of Energy’s Policy and some of these houses cannot be electrified as they are either too far from existing bulk infrastructure or on private land or on flood-prone areas or illegally under overhead power lines.
The Municipality has spent more than R7,5 million over the past two years on bulk infrastructure to cater for new electrification projects in these areas. The Municipality has also spent R8, 082 million on electrification projects over the past three financial years and has applied to the Department of Energy for more funding.
- Where water standpipes are provided, they are installed every 200 metres as per the national guidelines.
Refuse removal services are rendered in all areas which are accessible by vehicle or where an agreement could be reached with residents to bring the black bags that are supplied to them with the assistance of Ward Councillors to pre-determined collection points.
- A total of 441 toilets and wash basins with taps have been installed in terms of the Access to Basic Services project. There is one toilet for every five informal houses, which is in line with the national guidelines. The wash basin and tap is additional, which is provided by the Municipality. They could, however, not be installed in positions which are prohibited by law or in inaccessible places or on the steep inclines where some of the informal houses are situated or where they are too far away from the existing sewer networks.
The quality of services is either in line with national guidelines and in some cases exceeds these as with the extras the Municipality provided in relation to the Access to Basic Services programme.
