Roles of Vaal Central Water, Map Water clarified

By Emily Setona

CLARENS – The responsibilities of the two Maluti-a-Phofung Water entities Map Water and Vaal Central Water (VCW) have been clarified by the new Chief Executive Officer of VCW, Luvuyo Ntoyi, during an exclusive interview with The Guard.

“Vaal Central has been appointed by the Minister of Water and Sanitation through a ministerial directive. Our mandate is twofold: to ensure proper water supply from an operations and maintenance perspective and to oversee the refurbishment of all wastewater treatment works,” Ntoyi clarified.

He explained that while MAP Municipality retains its constitutional obligation to perform day-to-day water maintenance and supply, VCW’s role is to provide assistance in these areas. They are not the water suppliers for Maluti-a-Phofung. Their role is to support maintenance and build capacity.

Once this capacity is established, they will transfer skills back to MAP to enable them to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

VCW’s directive includes addressing sanitation challenges, specifically water and sewer treatment works and pump stations, while also assisting with reticulation issues.

A key focus is building capacity within MAPWater staff, including training workers to manage daily operations independently. Ntoyi noted that VCW’s involvement is short-term, and the water board does not report to MAP Municipality. However, he emphasized the importance of collaboration, announcing plans to meet with the new Municipal Manager (MM), Motsoahae Mofokeng, to establish a clear communication plan.

His explanation has been prompted by concerns raised during a Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) local municipality council sitting early in November, councillors voiced concerns over the ambiguity surrounding the role and presence of VCW in the municipality. The ongoing water crisis in MAP, compounded by the involvement of multiple water boards, dominated discussions.

MAP16 councillor, Nhlapo, expressed his frustration, questioning the overlapping roles of the water boards.

“Who is who in the zoo?” he asked, emphasizing the need for clarity on accountability and responsibilities.

The presence of multiple water boards in MAP has raised questions about governance and resource allocation.For his part Free State provincial head of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Dr. Tseliso Ntili, addressed these concerns in an interview with The Guard.

“As government, we have taken steps to assist Maluti-a-Phofung with water and sanitation challenges. Historically, Sedibeng Water was the operating water board in MAP. However, due to financial instability, we dissolved Sedibeng and merged its functions with Bloem Water,” Ntili explained.

Currently, the DWS is working toward establishing a unified water board for the Free State, with VCW taking on interim responsibilities in MAP. Addressing budgetary concerns, Ntili clarified that the allocated budget of R2 billion for MAP is spread over three to five years, as government budgets are linked to specific projects and timeframes.

Funds are not disbursed directly to water boards but are allocated based on the projects undertaken.Free State MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs, and Human Settlements, Saki Mokoena, reassured the public of the government’s commitment to improving service delivery in MAP. With the appointment of Municipal Manager Motsoahae Mofokeng, he said, residents could expect significant developments in the coming weeks and months.

“Government will continue to support Maluti-a-Phofung in addressing its service delivery challenges. With a strong leadership team in place, we are optimistic about progress,” Mokoena concluded.

The involvement of VCW highlights the government’s concerted efforts to resolve MAP’s water crisis, ensuring that sustainable solutions are implemented for the benefit of local communities.