By Nozipho Dlamini

Johannesburg – An initiative to reduce water loss in the municipalities of Gauteng has been launched by the department of water affairs and forestry in partnership with the South African Local Government Association (Salga) and Rand Water.

Duma Nkosi, the mayor of Ekurhuleni and the new chair of Salga, said the cost of water loss in the province was about R300-million a year.

“We have high losses in most municipalities. We have to receive water and ensure that it is supplied to the right people and payment is made,” he said.

The programme will focus on consumer education, water awareness and water use inspection.

“We will also develop a programme of improved environmental management within municipalities,” Nkosi said.

Mirriam Ngoate, a development expert at the water affairs department, said that the initiative would help create jobs.

Unemployed youth throughout the municipalities would be trained as water consumer educators, food security activists and environment management facilitators, Ngoate said.

“This is a contribution to the government's Project Consolidate and poverty alleviation programmes,” she said.

Trained representatives would also visit primary schools to teach learners about water awareness and conservation.

She said the education programme would start in January.

Source: BuaNews