Mthatha turns the corner

Local government

A Presidential grant of R5 billion is being used to upgrade crucial infrastructure in the important regional hub of Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

The presidential intervention has funded water and sanitation projects such as the refurbishment of Mthatha’s raw water infrastructure and upgrade of the Thornhill Water Treatment Plant. The plant works has been upgraded from a capacity of 60 mega litres to 80 mega litres a day. This has increased water capacity to the Mthatha city centre and surrounding areas. An additional 15 projects have been completed at a cost of R356 million. These include the rehabilitation of waste water pump stations, a water conservation and demand management programme, the Coffee Bay Regional Water Supply Scheme and refurbishment of the Mqanduli Water Supply Scheme.

More than R2.7 billion went to projects such as the construction of the Mvezo Bridge, Mthatha One-Way Bridge and Viedgisville Interchange, among others.

The runway at Mthatha Airport was extended to 2 727m and was handed over to airport authorities.

In addition, the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality and the Department of Human Settlements signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deliver more than 17 000 houses. Two multipurpose centres were also built in Ngangelizwe and Mqanduli.