A Special Council Meeting held at the Phuthaditjhaba Multi-purpose Hall endorsed the signing of the Distribution Agency Agreement (DAA) with the power utility, Eskom. The municipality’s spokesperson indicated in a media statement on Monday 26 September 2022, that the DAA between Eskom and the municipality has been agreed on and that the implementation of the agreement between the municipality and Bloem Water has been approved.

The municipality's spokesperson, Thabo Kessah, furthermore explains that in April 2021, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, directed Bloem Water to refurbish and upgrade all Wastewater Treatment Works and Water Treatment Works. As well as maintain all water and sanitation infrastructure in Maluti-a-Phofung.

He added that the Executive Mayor, Gilbert Mokotso, explained that “in the next few days, we will announce the actual signing of this agreement by our acting Municipal Manager and Eskom. As previously planned and communicated, this signing ceremony will be graced by the presence of the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, David Mabuza, who has been very instrumental in getting this agreement together,” said Mokotso.

OFM News previously reported that the MAP16 civic movement's head of communications, Mmutlanyana Sekete, said the agenda included the proposed resolution regarding the electricity crisis. He explained that the resolution would be instructing the municipality to conclude an agreement with the national power utility, Eskom.

ALSO READ: Final negotiation stage between Map and Eskom nears

Senzo 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 said he was being briefed about water sources, including pipes that were being prepared for the distribution of water to the treatment plants, and finally to residents, through various means, and other stakeholders.

ALSO READ: Water, Sanitation minister briefed about Maluti-a-Phofung

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