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The residents of Maluti-A-Phofung will breathe a sigh of relief after Free State Premier; Sisi Ntombela opened the Fika Patso Water Treatment Works (WTW), a move that will see their taps having water again.

The Department of Water and Sanitation under the leadership Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has been working tirelessly in an effort to bring relief to the people of QwaQwa who experienced water challenges due to drought phenomenon in the area. Minister Sisulu visited the area earlier this year and immediately instructed Sedibeng Water to put emergency interventions in place.

Amongst other emergency interventions that Sedibeng Water tasked with, was to refurbish Fika Patso Water Treatment Works to enable the flow of treated water straight to into people’s taps. This is the phase one of the refurbishment and it will supply reservoir to Mangaung A, Phuthaditjhaba, Ha-Rankopane, Manapo and Lejwaneng.

These efforts by the Department were boosted by Mother Nature as recent rainfalls have yielded good results for Fika Patso Dam and have pushed the water levels up to 41% capacity. 

The momentous occasion was observed at the Lejwaneng Village. Due to lockdown currently in place only a few delegated senior representatives from the local, provincial and national spheres of government and stakeholders attended.

Premier Ntombela assured all stakeholders that the aim is to have portable water in the taps in Maluti A Phofung. She also encouraged all residence to use the water sparingly as the dam levels are still low.

During this time when the country has been gripped by a terrible virus the Department implores all citizens to constantly wash hands with soap and water. Use sanitizer where water and soap are not available. Avoid touching surfaces that are commonly used such as elevator buttons and hand rails. Continue to use water sparingly as water is still a scarce resource in the country.

Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation