Mchunu, who is mostly locked in meetings with heads of the government entities, including water boards, during a media briefing said the assessment of Maluti-A-Phofung is an ongoing process. He says he was being briefed about water sources, including pipes that are being prepared for the distribution of water to the treatment plants, and finally to residents through various means, including other stakeholders. 

Mchunu says the Department of Water and Sanitation has done its part in relation to the distribution of water but the water treatment plants and municipalities are yet to fulfil their task in ensuring that all is well for the distribution of water to residents.  

"From water treatment plans, there is work that is still outstanding involving the municipality itself. Hence the session that we are likely to take when we finish after being briefed in relation to cost and other matters. It will come before we end our meeting via our department here in the Free State to say what will it take because they say the pipes are on the lines," he adds.

Mchunu says issues such as the non-payment by municipalities, including by the troubled Bloemfontein-based Mangaung Metro and the Welkom-based Matjhabeng Municipality will be discussed with both municipalities and their Water Boards.

He says officials from Sedibeng Water have briefed him and challenges have been identified and will be addressed.

He is expected to be addressed by Bloem Water and the Mangaung Metro. Mchunu is on a two-day session in Welkom and will also engage with Northern Cape provincial government officials on the very same issues.

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