FOCUS Rand Water
FOCUS Rand Water Recognising the intrinsic value of caring as one of Rand Water’s corporate values. As an essential services utility, Rand Water was established in terms of the Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997). The utility is accountable to the Minister of Water and Sanitation as an executive authority. The water board’s primary function is the provision of bulk-water supply and sanitation services for the socio-economic benefit of the people of Mpumalanga Province. This is not limited to, but is specifically for its existing clients, ie Bushbuckridge Local Municipality and the City of Mbombela. Rand Water is also moving ahead and touching people’s lives in community development through sponsorships and the Rand Water Foundation. New ablution facilities at Vukasambe Primary School. Before renovations. After renovations. New hand-basin facilities. Rand Water has responded well to society’s call in Mpumalanga by sponsoring a project at Vukasambe Primary School to build flushing toilet facilities fully fitted with modern fittings. The school is situated in the rural area of Msogwaba in the City of Mbombela. This is a school that is committed to raising awareness through environmental and water conservation education campaigns. Vukasambe Primary currently has an enrolment of 1 285 learners and 38 educators, and existing toilets were not adequate. The school built new flushing toilets, but Rand Water discovered that the septic tank is very small hence it could only accommodate educators and grade Rs. The toilets had to be connected to the existing water systems and a quality septic tank had to be installed to meet the growing demand of learners. The project objective is to give back to the communities that we MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2017/18 46
FOCUS serve; to promote the “hand wash” campaign of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS); to maximise brand visibility and awareness across Mpumalanga and to promote Rand Water as a caring entity. Also to advance the National Development Plan (NDP) on water and sanitation by preventing loss of life through health and hygiene. Further contributions by Rand Water to communities in the province include: • Water Technology Training: enrolled and trained 46 process controllers in the financial year 2016/17. Learners have successfully completed the following qualifications which they will soon be certified for by Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA): 1. National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Process Control (SAQA ID: 60190) – NQF Level 3 (14 Process Controllers registered) 2. National Certificate: Water Purification Process South Africa Qualification Authority (SAQA ID: 48910) – NQF Level 4 (32 Process Controllers registered) One of the main aims for training process controllers is to allow Rand Water Mpumalanga to comply with the requirements of Regulation 17/813 of the Water Services Act of 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997)/Regulation 2834. On reclassification, the process controllers should be able to obtain improved classes according to Schedule III of the Regulation 17/813. From National Qualification Framework (NQF) Level 2-4, New learners for 2017/18 and Rand Water Skills Development Facilitator. various qualifications enable learners to reach their potential without the lack of formal education being an impassable barrier. In addition, the qualification provides access to employment opportunities within the water sector. Water Purification Process Control NQF Level 4 prepares learners to function independently and in a supervisory capacity on a water purification plant. • In the 2017/18 financial year eight learners are going through the Graduate Internship Programme, preparing employees for job opportunities for two years. • Thirteen learners with Grade 12 qualifications are being trained on the Learnership Process Controller NQF Level 2 for a one-year period. On completion, they are eligible to enter any employment water environment with eight skills and experience at the appropriate level. All of these programmes are implemented to advance the call by government through the NDP to reduce unemployment in the country and also to tackle the shortage of technical skills in the province. CONTACT INFO Water is everybody’s business Let’s Save Water Every Drop Counts! Mpumalanga physical address: 08 Chief Mgiyeni Khumalo Drive, White River 1240 Tel: +27 13 750 0399 Website: www.randwater.co.za 47 MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2017/18
