The Bulletin News

What Is a Municipal Budget? The municipal budget is the annual financial plan adopted by the elected council. It outlines how funds will be collected and spent to deliver services, maintain infrastructure, and promote development. The budget is the key mechanism through which municipal priorities—set out in the IDP—are realised.

Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget consultations are annual, mandatory public participation processes in South Africa that allow residents to influence municipal service-delivery priorities and spending before the new financial year begins. These consultations typically run between August and May, and final municipal budgets must be approved before the start of the municipal financial year on July 1.

About the IDP and Budget Process

• The IDP is the municipality’s five-year strategic plan setting development priorities and objectives. The annual budget allocates funding to deliver those priorities (for example, water, roads, housing, sanitation and other municipal services).
• Municipalities invite community stakeholders to review and comment on draft IDP and budget documents through ward meetings, written submissions, and public notices. Inputs are considered before the council finalises the budget and adoption occurs ahead of the new financial year.
• IDPs are reviewed annually (even though they cover five years) to accommodate changing needs and to align the budget with current priorities.

Read the IDP here: Draft fourth annual review of idp.pdf

Read the Draft Budget here: DRAFT MEDIUM TERM REVENUE EXPENDITURE FRAMEWORK FOR THE 2026 2027 FINANCIAL.pdf

Current Consultations (2026/27): Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) GMM has scheduled public consultation meetings from 8 April to 20 April 2026. Residents may provide written inputs:

• General IDP inputs: sharon.p@govanmbeki.gov.za
• Budget inputs: office.cfo@govanmbeki.gov.za

How to Participate

• Take part in local meetings during the consultation period to raise priorities directly with councillors and municipal officials.
• Access draft IDP and budget documents—usually available on municipal websites, at municipal offices, or public libraries—and review proposed projects and allocations.
• If you cannot attend meetings, submit written inputs by email to the addresses above or use designated drop-off points where available.

Why Participation Matters

• Public participation is a statutory right under the Municipal Systems Act. Engaging ensures your ward’s needs are considered in planning and spending decisions.
• Resident input can shape which projects are prioritised and funded—such as repairs to infrastructure, improvements in water or sanitation, local safety measures, or community facilities.

How Municipal Budgets Work

• When does the municipal financial year start?
• The municipal financial year runs annually and must begin with an approved budget on July 1.

Funding sources:

• Property rates: Levies on property owners based on assessed values.
• Service charges: Fees for water, electricity, sanitation, and waste removal.
• National and provincial transfers: Grants like the Equitable Share to support basic services for indigent households.
• Fines, licenses, investments: Revenue from fines, business licenses, and municipal investments.
• Borrowing: Loans for major infrastructure projects.

• The municipal budget funds essential public services and infrastructure—basic services (water, electricity, sanitation, roads), community development (libraries, parks), public safety (fire, disaster management), and local economic growth initiatives.

Who Benefits? Municipal budgets serve all residents and businesses. They are especially crucial for indigent households relying on free or subsidised services and for ensuring a functional environment that supports local economic activity.

The Connection Between the IDP and the Budget The IDP sets the municipality’s strategic goals for economic and social development over five years and is managed by mayors, executive committees, and municipal managers. The annual budget is the implementation tool that allocates financial resources to projects and programs that deliver the IDP’s objectives. Annual IDP reviews—conducted during the budget process—allow municipalities to adjust plans to reflect changing priorities and inputs from the community.

Public Role After Budget Adoption Municipalities must create systems that maximise public participation. With rising tariffs and constrained resources, citizen involvement in budget processes is essential to ensure funds are directed appropriately toward operating and capital costs. After budgets are finalised, residents can monitor municipal spending by:

• Reviewing Auditor-General annual reports to assess compliance and value for money.

• Using audit findings to advocate for budget changes and improved service delivery in subsequent budget cycles. Active civic monitoring helps improve local facilities and outcomes for communities.

How to get involved now

• Note the GMM consultation period (8–20 April 2026).
• Attend your ward meeting or review the draft IDP and budget online or at municipal offices/libraries.
• Send written submissions to sharon.p@govanmbeki.gov.za (IDP) or office.cfo@govanmbeki.gov.za (budget).

Participation ensures municipal plans and spending reflect community priorities and improves accountability in how public funds are used.

“The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga has written to Health MEC Sasekani Manzini demanding urgent action to fill critical vacancies and address severe equipment and infrastructure shortages at Embhuleni District Hospital,” said Bosman Grobler, MPL — DA Spokesperson on Health, Mpumalanga Legislature.

Key findings and stats

• Staff Nurses: required 78 — currently 5 (94% vacancy)
• Professional Nurses: required 149 — currently 117 (21% vacancy)
• Medical Officers: required 39 — currently 14 (64% vacancy)
• Service footprint: Gert Sibande District, including an estimated 248,000 residents of Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality

As part of the ongoing Taking Legislature to the People (TLP) programme, the Portfolio Committee on Health, chaired by Munene Mhlongo, conducted an oversight visit to Embhuleni Hospital to evaluate healthcare access and project implementation. The hospital, founded in 1982 and marking 42 years, shows a stark contrast between its history and current operational challenges.

Presentations by Department Head Dr. Lucas Ndhlovu and Chief Director Dr. Sheryl Nelson confirmed that:

Board and administrative notes Sitani Nkosi, Chairperson of the Hospital Board, reported improvements and ongoing concerns:

• A new filing system has reduced missing patient files.
• Four new doctors have been appointed, stabilising emergency services and reducing outsourcing costs.
• The board is conducting surprise visits to monitor staff performance and executive accountability.
• However, committee members raised concerns about administrative discrepancies: some executive members remain on the payroll despite suspensions being lifted but have not returned to duty.

Committee demands and department response The Portfolio Committee demanded:

• Immediate filling of vacancies to reduce wait times and nurse fatigue.
• Comprehensive infrastructure upgrades, including replacement of old piping, improved disability access, and installation of surveillance cameras.
• Reinstatement of suspended employees cleared to return and a new strategy for engagement with labour unions.

Dr. Ndhlovu reported that 37 artisans have been deployed to begin renovations and equipment installation. He noted the financial logic of maintaining and optimising existing facilities when beds are under-utilised at smaller hospitals.

Accountability and deadline The committee has required the hospital and the Provincial Department of Health to submit a formal mitigation report addressing all raised concerns by 04/07/2026.

Impact and DA call to action The DA reiterates that failing to urgently address staffing, equipment and infrastructure shortages will perpetuate overcrowding, poor patient outcomes, longer waiting times, delayed diagnoses and staff burnout. The DA calls on MEC Sasekani Manzini to prioritise immediate recruitment of nursing staff and medical officers, procurement of essential equipment and consumables, and full infrastructure refurbishments to restore safe, timely care for the community.

Govan Mbeki Municipality has tabled a draft 2026/27 Medium-Term Revenue & Expenditure Framework that lays bare a municipality under acute financial stress. The document, prepared in line with MFMA and National Treasury guidance, shows rising costs, shrinking capital investment and a funding shortfall that threatens service delivery and legal compliance.

A stark funding gap The draft budget projects operating revenue of R3.819 billion against operating expenditure of R4.169 billion — an operating deficit of about R349 million. Including capital, the municipality faces an overall deficit of R432 million. These shortfalls come alongside a reduced capital programme of R192.9 million for 2026/27, down by R27.6 million from the adjusted 2025/26 budget, constraining investment in infrastructure at a time when maintenance and upgrades are critical.

Mounting liabilities and cash-flow risk The municipality’s creditors currently total R7.638 billion, with Eskom and Rand Water the largest outstanding accounts. At an assumed 66% payment rate, only R4.45 billion of debt is realistically collectible over time — well short of what is needed to meet obligations and sustain operations. The budget papers warn the municipality will be unable to pay obligations as they fall due, risking non-compliance with Subsection 99(2)(b) of the Municipal Finance Management Act and exposing the council to potential litigation, additional interest charges and escalating legal fees.

Drivers of the deterioration Operating expenditure has increased by R331.43 million relative to the current adjusted budget, driven mainly by salary increases (kept within the 35% regulation), higher bulk-purchase costs and general inflation. Revenue growth is constrained, and without decisive action collection rates, operating efficiency and cost control will not improve fast enough to close the gap.

Service delivery and personnel implications Cash-flow constraints could leave critical vacancies unfilled, undermining service delivery and limiting the municipality’s operational capacity. The papers call for an urgent, intensive review of the organizational structure to align staff to essential deliverables.

Policy response and recommended measures The draft reiterates the statutory requirement to adopt funded budgets and urges immediate interventions: expenditure reprioritization, strict cost containment, intensified revenue enhancement and improved credit control, and full implementation of mSCOA. Administratively, the municipality proposes tariff increases (water and sewerage up to 11%, provisional electricity 12.74%, assessment rates and other tariffs around 3.7%) and other policy measures aimed at stabilizing finances. The document also stresses that if an unfunded budget is adopted, Council must table a credible plan showing how the municipality will move to a funded position.

Political fallout: opposition to an unfunded budget The funding gap and the municipality’s precarious cash position drew political opposition. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) voted against accepting an unfunded budget, signalling concern that the draft fails to provide a sustainable, lawful funding model and warning that continued acceptance of unfunded budgets will deepen financial instability and compromise core services.

Conclusion Govan Mbeki’s 2026/27 draft budget signals an urgent need for decisive, sustained fiscal action. The operating and overall deficits — R349 million and R432 million respectively — coupled with R7.638 billion in creditors and limited collectible debt, create an immediate liquidity crisis with legal and service-delivery consequences. While the administration has proposed revenue and cost measures, the rejection by DA and FF+ of an unfunded budget underscores the political and governance challenge: without a credible, fundable plan and disciplined implementation, the municipality risks further deterioration in financial health and service outcomes.

The court order and accompanying cost order in the urgent legal case brought by Saai, Sakeliga and Free State Agriculture against the Minister, Director-General and Director of Animal Health of the Department of Agriculture, regarding the control of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine, have once again highlighted how far removed the bureaucratic world of the public service is from the seriousness and urgency of livestock farming. While more farms are financially collapsing every day, the Minister, after three months, brought a draft framework for action (an Article 10 vaccination scheme) to court as his solution—one that had been rejected by his own department a week earlier. The current outbreak has been a major threat since 2022/2023, yet the Minister could only present a draft minutes before the hearing.

The more than three months during which the agricultural industry tried to assist the department with the contents of the vaccination scheme have been prohibitively costly, with hundreds of dairies, stud breeders, commercial herds and small-scale farmers facing losses from which they may not recover. Saai welcomes the fact that the court has now imposed strict deadlines on the Minister, ahead of the postponed court date. Should the Minister wish to promulgate a scheme, it must be done before 17 April 2026.

The order also creates an opportunity for farmers and other stakeholders, who have been excluded by the Minister, to provide input into the final vaccination scheme.

The matter was argued in court today after the Minister, for more than a month, failed to indicate the legal basis for his insistence that all aspects of the vaccination campaign must be controlled by the state. It is now clear that such legal grounds do not exist, but are instead based on an ideological preference for centralised state control rather than private initiative.

“It is regrettable that a DA Minister subscribes to ANC ideals of central control. Farmers suspect that state interference is designed to inflate costs so that politically connected tenderpreneurs and parasitic officials can benefit improperly, regardless of the consequences for livestock farmers on their farms,” said the statement by SAAI

Total state control has plunged the livestock industry into its greatest existential crisis ever, and although there are some agricultural organisations that support it, Saai and its network partners are mandated to ensure that central control is not presented as the only solution.

The last meeting (March 2026) brought members together for club business, PSSA news, event planning and an inspiring guest-judge session by Johan Frost.

Key highlights

• Meeting welcome and entries summary: 58 images entered across categories (Pictorial 16, Nature — Birds Only 11, Nature 7, Monochrome 6, Scapes 6, Set Subject 9, Photojournalism 3).
• Web competition entries (February): notable club submissions by Louis van der Walt, Leon Pelser, DNE Smit, Sussa Pelser and Yolandi Geyser.
• PSSA salon results: Sasol Highveld members received several acceptances at the 5th Bethal Digital Salon PDI (2026);
• PSSA Honours Images 2025 were highlighted.
• Club served as a judging venue for the PSSA 29th National Up-and-Coming Photo Competition (Open Monochrome — Scholars) with local judges listed.

Events and outings

• Confirmed volunteers and photographers for the 46th Annual Sasol Secunda Marathon.
• Upcoming local event: Goedehoop Rainbow Rush (20 March 2026).
• A list of upcoming PSSA salons and competitions was shared for members to enter.

Administration & reminders

• Birthdays: Leon Pelser — 2 March (members asked to update birthdays on PhotoVault) — slide 3.
• Club promotions: none this month.
• Members are reminded to select “Sasol Highveld Photography” as their nominated photo club when entering PSSA web competitions.

Meeting calendar & set subjects (2026)

• March 6 — Perspective
• April 17 — Motion
• May 8 — Night
• June 5 — Time
• July 3 — Funny
• August 14 — Forms in Nature
• September 4 — Industrial
• October 2 — Mirror, mirror
• November 6 — Self-Portrait
• Year-end function / AGM: 5 December (braai) — slide 18.

Thank you and congratulations to the winners and to all members who entered recent competitions.

The best Senior Photographer for March is Leon Pelser with “Inspection”

The best Junior Photographer for March is Edmund Hattingh with “Stofwolk”

The best Setsubject Photograph for March is Sussa Pelser with “Man Coming Up The Staircase”

Here are all the COM and Gold winners for the March meeting:

Category – Set Subject (Perspective)

Catagory – Photojournalism

Category – Pictorial

Category – Nature

Category – Monochrome

Category – Scapes

Category – Nature, Birds only

Water-supply problems continue to plague Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM), leaving many residents across the municipality increasingly frustrated and vulnerable. The crisis has persisted for months, with some communities — notably parts of Bethal — enduring prolonged outages. Residents in sections of Bethal reportedly went without water for more than 50 days, a situation that has intensified public anger and raised urgent questions about accountability and long-term planning.

Multiple factors are contributing to the crisis. Frequent pipe bursts have severely disrupted supply and affected large areas. Many reservoirs and balancing structures are either bypassed or non-functional, producing chaotic pressure fluctuations across the network. Those pressure swings place extra stress on aging pipes and fittings, leading to repeated failures and cascading outages. Where reservoirs are empty or offline, the municipality has fewer options to stabilise flows and protect vulnerable sections of the system.

When residents ring the municipal call centre, they are often told that Rand Water is not pumping or that the supply problem lies with Rand Water. However, the situation appears more complex than a single-source failure. During a recent visit to Rand Water in Gauteng, attended by DA councillor Mariaan Chamberlain and MP Steven Moore, Rand Water emphasised that municipalities must meet their payment obligations. According to Rand Water’s presentation — posted as a press release and circulated to media outlets — Govan Mbeki Municipality owes close to R1 billion to Rand Water.

Rand Water said it is supplying the volumes for which it is being paid, though it did not disclose the precise paid-for volume. Sources within the municipality say GMM normally receives between 80–90Ml (Megalitres) per day under usual operating conditions. GMM is currently receiving between 60 and 63Ml per day according to sources within the municipality. Rand Water also noted that an extra 200Ml of water recently approved for allocation will be directed to metropolitan areas and will not be pumped to GMM.

While bulk supply is a critical part of the story, the municipality retains responsibility for distribution, balancing and local infrastructure maintenance. That division of responsibility raises serious governance and operational questions. If Rand Water is delivering the contracted volumes, why are some reservoirs and communities receiving adequate supply while others remain low or empty? The pattern suggests problems in municipal distribution management, maintenance backlogs, or prioritisation decisions that disadvantage certain communities.

The state of specific reservoirs underlines the scale of the challenge. For example, the reservoir in Secunda Extension 22 has reportedly been out of operation for a long period. A contractor was appointed to repair and return it to service, but the work remains incomplete. These prolonged delays in critical repairs reduce the municipality’s capacity to balance flows and mitigate pressure-related failures.

Rand Water representatives also reported difficulties storing sufficient water in their own storage systems, which complicates pumping and scheduling to municipalities. In addition, both parties acknowledged that communication between Rand Water and GMM — and from GMM to residents — has been poor. Confusion over responsibilities, billing and operational status has left communities uncertain about when their water will be restored.

Reservoir levels as at 18 March 2026 illustrate the uneven distribution:

Region 1: Bethal Rand 40%; Extension 4 10%; Extension 5 & Van Heerden EMPTY. Affected areas: Extensions 3, 4, 5, Azapo, Kanana and Chris Hani.

Region 2: Lebohang RDP 80%; Leandra 70%; Kinross Town 90%; Evander 60%. Systems for Eendracht, Thistle Grove, Secunda and Trichardt are maintaining direct flow to residents. Water trucks have been deployed to support areas experiencing interruptions.

Region 3: Adullam 100%; eMbalenhle Extension 15 30%; Charl Cilliers 0%. Water tankers are being dispatched to Charl Cilliers, surrounding farms and affected extensions in eMbalenhle.

The reservoir-to-area mapping shows which communities are currently being served by specific tanks, with some areas receiving regular flow while others rely on emergency tanker deliveries.

The human and economic impacts are significant. Households coping without reliable water face immediate health and sanitation risks, added expense for purchasing water, and reduced quality of life. Small businesses, schools and health facilities also suffer operational disruptions that can affect livelihoods and essential services. Prolonged outages can exacerbate inequalities, as households with resources secure private water deliveries while poorer residents remain without.

Addressing the crisis will require coordinated action on several fronts. Immediate steps should include completing outstanding repair contracts for reservoirs and critical infrastructure, restoring bypassed reservoirs to service, and deploying a targeted pressure-management plan to reduce bursts. Financially, the municipality and Rand Water must reach clarity on accounts and contracted supply volumes to avoid supply reductions tied to unpaid bills. Equally important is restoring transparent, timely communication: residents need accurate updates on repair timelines, tanker schedules and priority allocations.

The Bulletin was reliably informed that GMM will table a plan to balance the water supply at the council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 25 March 2026. Residents and oversight bodies will be watching to see if that plan includes clear budgets, timelines, contingency measures for vulnerable communities, and mechanisms to improve communication and accountability between the municipality and Rand Water.

Without decisive, coordinated action that addresses both bulk supply settlement and local distribution failures, the water crisis in Govan Mbeki is likely to persist — with serious social and economic consequences for the municipality’s residents.

Every year, countless families pay the price for a decision that’s often made in seconds: letting someone ride in the open tray of a bakkie. What might seem like convenient, cheap transport is in fact a profoundly dangerous choice. The physics are simple and unforgiving: there are no seatbelts, no airbags, no crush protection—only bare metal and exposure. In a crash, passengers in the tray are catapulted, crushed, or thrown clear and left to collide with pavement, guardrails, posts, or other vehicles. Survival is the exception, not the rule.

Why it’s so dangerous

• No restraint or protection: Unlike a cabin, the tray offers no built-in safety systems. Passengers can be ejected in even minor collisions or sudden manoeuvres.
• High risk from everyday events: A pothole, sudden braking, swerving to avoid an obstacle, or a sharp turn can launch someone from the back. Even a slow-speed incident can produce catastrophic injuries.
• Increased severity of injury: Being struck by a bakkie or thrown onto asphalt, metal, or concrete typically results in multiple severe injuries — head trauma, spinal injury, fractures, internal bleeding — that have higher fatality and disability rates than similar crashes involving belted occupants.
• Children and vulnerable passengers: Children, the elderly, and smaller adults have far less ability to protect themselves and suffer disproportionately severe outcomes. Loose riders can also become projectiles that injure others.
• Weather and road hazards: Wet, icy, or debris-covered roads increase the risk of ejection. Lack of shelter exposes passengers to sun, rain, cold and objects kicked up by the road.

Real consequences Beyond the immediate physical harm, the fallout is social and economic: families lose breadwinners, children lose parents, and survivors may live with lifelong disabilities. Emergency services and hospitals bear the burden of treating preventable, severe trauma. Communities suffer avoidable grief and financial stress.

Myths and realities

• “It’s okay for short trips.” Even short trips carry the same physical risks. Many catastrophic injuries occur within a few kilometres of home.
• “Holding on will keep you safe.” Sudden forces in crashes can easily overpower a person’s grip. There’s no reliable way to stay secured in an open tray.
• “It’s common practice, so it must be acceptable.” Frequency does not equal safety. Cultural norms and cost pressures often mask risks that become evident only after tragedy.

What drivers and passengers should do instead

• Use the cab: Always transport people inside the vehicle cabin with properly functioning seatbelts. If the vehicle has limited seating, make multiple trips or use another vehicle.
• Child safety: Never place children in the tray. Use appropriate child restraints or car seats in the cabin.
• Plan for capacity: If you regularly need to move people, consider investing in a vehicle with adequate seating or arranging safe, licensed transport.
• Report and refuse: If you’re a passenger and asked to ride in the tray, refuse. If you’re a driver, insist that no one travels in the back regardless of pressure or convenience.
• Secure loads separately: Keep cargo and passengers strictly separated. Heavy or unstable loads in the tray increase risk for everyone.
• Advocate for change: Support local regulations and enforcement that prohibit riding in open trays and encourage safer transport options.

How communities can help

• Education campaigns: Raise awareness about the real dangers and dispel myths that normalize risky behaviour.
• Policy and enforcement: Strengthen and enforce laws banning passengers in open vehicle trays, with clear penalties and alternatives.
• Accessible alternatives: Improve affordable, safe public and private transport options so people aren’t forced to choose risk for cost reasons.

A simple choice can save lives Putting someone in the back of a bakkie is not a small risk; it’s a potentially lethal one. The easy convenience of loading people into the tray is outweighed by the very real chance of permanent injury or death. If you care about the safety of your family, friends, or community, choose the cabin every time, make safe transport a priority, and speak up when you see dangerous practices. A moment of convenience is never worth a lifetime of loss.

EXECUTIVE MAYORS STRENGTHEN OVERSIGHT AND MONITORING IN STANDERTON WATER TREATMENT WORKS TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS.

The Executive Mayor of Gert Sibande District Municipality, Cllr Walter Mngomezulu, joined by the Executive Mayor of Lekwa Local Municipality, Cllr Sfiso Mngemezulu, conducted another oversight visit to the Standerton Water Treatment Works refurbishment project on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, to assess progress and receive an update from the technical team. The visit forms part of continuous monitoring of the project, which is a ministerial intervention following the Minister’s visit on 21 July 2022, which resulted in the approval of Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) funding by National Treasury.

During the oversight visit, the Executive Mayors were taken through the various work areas on site and received a progress briefing from the technical team. Progress recorded is as follows:-

1. The project is currently 93% complete and is expected to be finalised by the end of March 2026. Once completed, the current need for periodic shutdowns will fall away, which will significantly improve the reliability and stability of water supply to residents.
2. Work done since last oversight visit include bulk pipeline that transports raw water, of 16 filters only two were remaining, mechanical and electrical work completed and training of the Lekwa Municipality electricians to operate the system also completed.
3. Councillors who joined the oversight visit confirmed that  the relevant wards have already begun experiencing improvements in water supply, except during planned shutdown periods which are necessary when contractors integrate new infrastructure into the existing live system.
4. The technical team further confirmed that treated water quality continues to meet the required standards following regular testing. However, when pipelines remain temporarily dry during shutdown periods, accumulated sediment within the system may become dislodged when supply resumes, sometimes causing temporary discolouration until the system stabilises and normal flow flushes the pipelines. The Lekwa Municipality is ensuring that this is attended to.

To strengthen oversight and accelerate progress, the District Executive Mayor has instituted twice-weekly progress meetings with the technical team and contractors to ensure challenges are addressed timeously in order to meet the completion deadline. The public is requested to be patient as there are various challenges encountered during the project such as working within a live operational water system, which requires periodic shutdowns to safely connect new infrastructure. Careful control blasting activities in the absence of as-built drawings for existing water and electrical infrastructure must be applied, which has at times slows progress.

The project focuses on increasing the capacity of the clear water storage tank to ensure sufficient storage for high-lift pumps to deliver adequate volumes of treated water into the district network, to meet the growing supply demand. The Gert Sibande District Municipality is implementing the project on behalf of Lekwa Local Municipality as appointed by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

The principals are confident that the completion of the refurbishment will significantly improve the reliability of bulk water supply and strengthen the overall water distribution system serving the people of Standerton. The leadership will continue conducting regular oversight visits and monitoring progress closely until the project is 100% completed and the system is fully stabilised. They request patience of residents during necessary shutdown periods, noting that these temporary inconveniences are part of the work required to connect the upgraded infrastructure and ensure a long-term solution to the water supply challenges in the area