OR Tambo District Municipality has introduced contractors to the community of Ward 13 in King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality as the district authority seeks to expand the existing Mthatha Town bulk water supply system to create a regional scheme.
The project falls within the Nqadu Corridor and is part of the KSD Presidential Intervention Programme (KSDPI). OR Tambo District Municipality spokesperson, Zimkhitha Macingwane, said the project comprises two contracts worth millions of Rands.
“The primary focus of KSDPI is to expand the existing Mthatha Town bulk water supply system operated by the OR Tambo DM to create a regional scheme extending along five development corridors and serving just over 1 million people, with Nqadu forming one of the corridors.
“The KSDPI Bulk Water Project aims to unlock housing and commercial developments for the region rather than just Mthatha Town,” Macingwane said.
“The scope includes the construction of 9.4km of DN350 oPVC rising main (SV1600 to SV11000). It has been awarded to Gingordin Methods Trading, and the contract amount is R28,535,768.08. Subcontracting is negotiable up to 15% (2km of pipeline).
“The contract period is approximately 18 months. The project will create around 65 employment opportunities,” she explained.
She mentioned that the project was meant to have been completed in 2020 but is still under implementation due to delays.
These included stoppages by affected communities, poor contractor performance, and later, funding depletion.
The second contract’s scope includes the construction of 2.4km DN350 oPVC rising main (SV11000 to SV13400) and 9.8km DN200 mPVC gravity main.
“The contract was awarded to Rhweba Trading at an amount of R35,494,755.20. Subcontracting is also negotiable up to 15% (2km of pipeline).
“There is provision for the construction of an abstraction weir at Mjika Village for R1.7 million, with the contract period being 20 months. Employment opportunities for this project will be around 72 people,” Macingwane said.
