The Kgetlengrivier Concerned Citizens (KCC) action group that includes residents from Koster, Derby and Swartruggens, handed over the management of the sewage and water works in both Koster and Swartruggens to the Pionier Dienstemaatskappy on 30 March 2021. This follows after residents decided to take back the water and sewage works after its management had been in the hands of the Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality again for a short period.
The Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality and CoGTA however failed to pay outstanding amounts due for the management of the works since December 2020 as agreed. The residents once again took control of the water and sewage works in Koster and Swartruggens, in accordance with the payment plan which became null and void as a result of non-payment.
Carel van Heerden of the KCC welcomes the appointment of Pionier and the cooperation with AfriForum to deliver sustainable services to the community. “Magalies Water’s short-lived management of the works the past few weeks was catastrophic. Returning the sewage and water works without a sustainable model for responsible management is simply no longer an option. Cooperation with Pionier and AfriForum is an important step to the sustainable management of these services by the community,” adds Van Heerden.
According to Wilhelm Rochér, representative of Swartruggens’ members of the KCC, the water quality and management deteriorated visibly since Magalies Water took over control again. “Not taking back the management of these services would have resulted in us being back in court in no time. We handed Pionier’s appointment letter to Joseph Mogale, the Municipal Manager, this morning (31 March),” says Rochér.
According to Johan Kruger, Head of Community Development at AfriForum, sustainable long-term solutions need to be found. “The municipality and its chosen service provider have proved that it is not possible to successfully manage these services the way they were managed before. We will have to develop new models for community development where the community as a whole can handle the management of these services together with all community role players.”
* Pionier is a non-profit company that was established with the aim at enhancing community involvement in cooperation with municipalities. The company’s main objectives is to develop self-management ability and infrastructure to ensure service-delivery that is both sustainable and of a high quality.