The 2016/17 edition of Limpopo Business is the eighth issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2007, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the Limpopo province.
Limpopo is unique in terms of its abundant natural and human resources, and is also one of the key drivers behind the South African economy.
This edition of Limpopo Business is officially endorsed by the Office of the Premier of Limpopo.
OVERVIEW Water A
OVERVIEW Water A Limpopo Water Master Plan will be tabled during 2016. SECTOR INSIGHT Limpopo in the site of two of South Africa’s largest infrastructure projects - Mokolo Crocodile Augmentationn Project and Oliefants River Water Resources Dvelopment Project. A Provincial Water and Sanitation Summit has resolved that a Limpopo Water Master Plan has to be urgently developed. Floods have been known in parts of Limpopo (and they have been serious), but the more pressing threat is drought: a disaster area was declared in late 2015 in response to the latest prolonged shortage of water. National and provincial government set aside budgets for the provision of feed to livestock farmers. In addition to this emergency aid, downward revisions also have had to be made to schemes that include irrigation, such as the Fetsa Tlala programme. The province’s two most important economic sectors (mining and agriculture) depend on a steady and sustainable supply of water. Several Limpopo towns have struggled to supply clean water to residents, and this has led to tension between residents and municipal officials. In response, the National Minister of Public Works has put together a technical team to support the municipalities. Limpopo’s three distinct regions attract very different levels of rainfall: the escarpment (sub-humid with annual rainfall of more than 700mm); semi-arid middle veld and Highveld; and the arid and semiarid Lowveld. The province’s rivers are also under threat from the damaging effects of the mining industry, power stations, chemicals used in agriculture and from sewage treatment in catchment areas. Opportunities exist in this sector for innovative solutions. The National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has attached a figure of R570-billion to the amount of investment needed in South Africa’s water supply chain in the years to 2022. Water resources infrastructure alone is said to need R162- billion. Limpopo is the site of two of the biggest of these projects: the Mokolo Crocodile Augmentation Project (west) and the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project in the east. Each of Limpopo’s five district municipalities function as a Water Service Authority and the Lepelle Northern Water company has a LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2016/17 62
OVERVIEW strong presence in the central, eastern and southern parts of the province. North Parts of Limpopo’s most northern district are extremely dry. Surface water mainly originates in the mountainous areas and is regulated by several dams in the upper and middle reaches of the rivers. Over-exploitation of groundwater is a problem. An innovative water-catching project run by meteorology students of the University of Pretoria is providing a community in the Soutpansberg with clean drinking water. Instead of relying on tankers to bring water to their dry area, schoolchildren in the Tshiavha village collect water from giant sheets that trap the water that has gathered as fog. Threemetre-high nets set up around the school provide about 2 500 litres per day. West The Mokolo Crocodile Augmentation Project is designed to supply water to Medupi, the new power station being built at Lephalale, and to the coal mining operations that will feed it. A pump station and a 45km pipeline between the site of the power station and the Mokolo Dam are being built by the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority. Mokolo Crocodile Consultants, a group of five consulting firms which includes Aurecon, is providing engineering services to this project. East and south When the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project is fully developed, it will be supplying water to 23 platinum mines. The De Hoop Dam is at the centre of the scheme. Water developments in the Sekhukhune district have not been restricted to the De Hoop Dam. Five water projects with 65 associated schemes had delivered other water infrastructure, including pipes to get water to Moutse from the Loskop Dam. A concerned group of water users (from mining, heavy industry and conservation circles) have formed the Olifants River Forum to monitor change in the big catchment area. The forum is funding a team of researchers from several universities and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to conduct tests on the quality of water and threats to the same in the upper reaches of the Olifants. Polokwane The Water and Sanitation Services branch of the Polokwane Municipality operates five water-purification plants and three sewage-purification plants. As part of its Regional Water Scheme programme, Polokwane provides water to the residents of the rural areas of Mothapo, Mothiba and Makotopong. A 600-kilolitre reservoir was built and new pipes were laid. The Capricorn District Municipality funds a water-testing laboratory on the campus of the University of Limpopo. Mocha Lab has been operating in Polokwane since 2008 and has the capability to provide services to the mining and engineering sector, as well as to water authorities. ONLINE RESOURCES Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism: www.ledet.gov.za National Department of Water and Sanitation: www.dwa.gov.za Olifants River Forum: www.orf.co.za South African Association of Water Utilities: www.saawu.co.za Water Institute of South Africa: www.wisa.org.za Water Research Commission: www.wrc.org.za 63 LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2016/17
