An inspection of the maintenance work took place in Clarens on Friday (15/11). A media tour of the Little Caledon tunnel and Ash River outflow was led by Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation Sello Seitlholo and David Mahlobo, and acting Free State Premier Jabu Mbalula.

Accompanying the ministers were the Executive mayors of Dihlabeng, Thabo Mofutsanyana and Fezile Dabi, Setsoto, Mafube, Mantsopa, and Nketoane municipalities.

“With the maintenance of the Lesotho Highland Water project as the municipality we are directly affected,” said Dihlabeng Mayor Tseki Tseki.

Sello Seitlholo and David Mahlobo at the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Ash River Outfall. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

“Because here in Clarens we strictly abstract water from Lesotho, but during this time of maintenance we've actually put measures in place by augmenting the current capacity.”

“We’ve done that by drilling boreholes and equipping them so that our community can receive water.”

But over and above that we also have our storage of water which is the Townlands dam that can give the community water for up to four to six weeks which is currently being used to give our community water during this particular time of maintenance, he said.

The first inspection was done at the Little Caledon tunnel measured 387 meters sandblasting was underway and next week contractors will begin with coating.

The second inspection was at Ash River Outfall situated 15 km outside Clarens. Media was taken on a tour inside the tunnel to observe the dry tunnel and where water used to flow.

After the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority and the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency de-watered the tunnel, technical checks were carried out, and internal repairs began. These repairs will continue until March 31 next year, when the tunnel will reopen.

Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

“I am grateful for this opportunity for us to give assurance to the people of the Free State that collaboratively the government working together with the national government we are indeed attending to the problems of Water,” said Mbalula.

“For me, the most critical issue is around the question of water leaks especially because it relates to municipalities.”

Water leaks are one of the areas where we’ve got a big problem, especially in Matjhabeng, he said.

Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

OFM News previously reported two years after the Klein Caledon pump station was vandalised, refurbishments were finally completed in August.

Dihlabeng said it was hard to restore the Klein Caledon electrical panel and pump station to its former glory after it was damaged in 2022.

The municipality appointed a service provider to replace all the equipment that was stolen and vandalised, including the replacement of 37KW control panels and cables.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame mvh