By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Maluti-a-Phofung Executive Mayor Tumelo Thebe is part of a high-level Free State delegation visiting China to explore infrastructure solutions aimed at improving water and sanitation systems across municipalities in the province.
Thebe’s participation follows a mandate approved during the latest council meeting at Bluegumbosch Stadium. He is accompanied by Project Management Unit (PMU) manager Tshepo Selepe.
The delegation, led by MEC Saki Mokoena, includes executive mayors and senior municipal officials. The visit is taking place in Shanghai and Jiangsu Province in the People’s Republic of China.
The provincial government said the mission is focused on identifying innovative, sustainable and cost-effective technologies to address worsening wastewater treatment and sanitation challenges facing municipalities.
Many wastewater treatment plants in the Free State are under severe strain due to ageing infrastructure, rapid population growth and increasing service delivery demands.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Mokoena said the trip marked “an important step in repositioning the Free State towards modern, resilient and sustainable infrastructure development”.
He said the provincial government remained committed to learning from international best practices and adopting technologies that could strengthen service delivery and support sustainable human settlements across the province.
