The Department of Water and Sanitation says steady progress is being made in providing water to the residents of Mashonamini village, in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.

The department on Monday said phase one of projects to deliver water to the area has been completed. A total of R601-million has been allocated for phase two of providing water.

“A service provider/main contractor has been appointed on the projects by Rand Water and is expected to be on site by January 26, 2015.

“This work that will start [next] Monday is expected to reach completion in line with the commitment of Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane and Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza by December 2015,” the department said.

Minister Mokonyane has also directed that work must be done block by block to make sure that no one misses out on getting clean drinking water.

“The thinking around this process is aimed at reducing the chances of illegal connections by those that ordinarily could have been bypassed.

“Part of this process will include educating the community through water conservation and water demand management efforts, which will seek to support the municipality in addressing such illegal connections,” the department said.

A task team headed by the Director-General of the department, Margaret-Ann Diedricks, has been set up to make sure the project is delivered.

The task team is made up of members from the department, the province, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality and Rand Water.

“The task team will work closely with the relevant local councillors to ensure that the community is kept abreast of all the developments as they unfold. This will include timelines as well as the scheduling and placement of water tankers in the short-term,” the department said.

The department said it remained committed to ensuring universal access to safe water for all communities.

“The community of Mashonamini village is no different and will receive the requisite services as per the directive of Minister Mokonyane and Premier Mabuza.”