Asbestos replacement project kicks off

LEPHALALE - The Lephalale municipality officially started the R10,5 million replacement of asbestos water pipes project on Tuesday when they met with two of the contractors responsible for the project.
According to Lawrence Tlhako, infrastructure manager at the municipality, the project will ease some of the financial strain on the municipality due to the high cost of maintaining ageing infrastructure. “Existing water supply systems should be refurbished in a manner that serves the growing population of Onverwacht, Lephalale Town, Marapong and rural communities,” Tlhako said.
So far Lephalale Municipality has received a R7 million cash injection from the department of water and sanitation, while R3.5 million came from municipal coffers. Some of the pipes were installed 30 years ago and the replacement pipes will cover 9km. “Baswa Electro Consultants have already done designs for the project with Zenobia Trading tasked to run the project.”
The project is expected to run until September 2016. Part of the project’s Social Labour Plan (SLP) will see 30 recruitments comprising of skilled and unskilled people, 20 of these recruits will go through a plumbing training programme and they will also get a Certificate of Competence/Recognition for future employment opportunities.
Lephalale mayor, Jack Maeko, advised employees to use the opportunity to their advantage for future employment opportunities. “I would like to see Zenobia Trading to at least recruit a physically challenged person to do administrative work to ensure that there is improvement and upliftment in the lives of disabled people in Lephalale.”