OVERVIEW
Water Department of Scientific Services
Water projects are stimulating economic growth.
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rom providing water for an attempt on a world land speed record to laying on bulk water facilities for small rural municipalities — national, provincial and local authorities have a wide range of challenges to overcome in ensuring that life is sustained, and economic activity can thrive. The dry area around Hakskeenpan is ideally suited to driving vehicles fast but the world record land speed attempt is going to attract big crowds (and large technical support teams) and so a special effort has been made to provide infrastructure that will make sure that a reliable water supply is on tap. This investment will also secure the venue as a future site of similar open-air events or competitions. Six municipalities have been identified for the eradication of informal settlements. A major obstacle in the municipalities of Sol Plaatje, Phokwane, Tsantsabane, Dawid Kruiper, Gamagara and Ga-Segonyana is the lack of bulk water and sanitation facilities. Ring-fenced funding in terms of the Division of Revenue Act has been approved. Two projects being run by the Provincial Government of the Northern Cape in conjunction with national government departments relate to water. Solar water heaters are being provided to residents of the Sol Plaatje Municipality and training for maintenance and repair is also being offered by the National Department of Energy. The National Department of Public Works is running a Shared
SECTOR INSIGHT
Water has opened “Sustaining the source and flow of lifeSedibeng forever” a laboratory in the Northern
NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2019/20
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Cape. • Twenty-two villages will benefit from the Vaal Gamagara project. Water Efficiency Programme on 30 Northern Cape provincial government properties. The provincial government has adopted a Climate Change Adaptation Response Strategy.
Assets Two of South Africa’s great rivers meet in the Northern Cape at a point south-west of Kimberley. After absorbing the Vaal River, the Orange River
