The growing number of informal settlements in South Africa is increasing pressure on basic services that the government has to provide such as water and sanitation, housing and electricity, challenges both local and national government are working extremely hard to address. Hoxana Consulting Engineers has partnered with various local municipalities to deliver service of the highest quality as part of government’s commitment to eradicate dire conditions in disadvantaged communities such as Wesselton, Ermelo.

The Wesselton settlement consists of both formal and informal settlements which have developed as a result of the housing shortages in the area. Wesselton Extension 5 currently has 100 informal structures housing 400 people, and extension 10 has a total of 51 informal living structures which are home to 212 residents.“These informal settlements are a health hazard and a resolution to formalize all informal settlements has been made by Msukaligwa Local Municipality (MLM)”, says Livingstone Mashele, Managing Director at Hoxana Consulting Engineers.

The Msukaligwa Local Municipality appointed Hoxana Consulting Engineers to undertake the planning, design and construction monitoring for the implementation of the extension of sewer reticulation from Wesselton Extension 5 and 10. The estimated cost of the proposed sewer reticulation and toilets for Wesselton Ext 5 is valued at R 2 390 429.98 and R 1 703 250.52 for Wesselton Ext 10.The completion of the sewer reticulation will greatly improve the quality of life for all residents through hygienic living conditions, reduction in pollution and eradication of water borne diseases such as Cholera and Typhoid.

Hoxana Consulting Engineers will also ensure that local communities benefit from the project through the adoption of labour intensive construction methods and training. “At Hoxana, we strongly believe in community upliftment which is why approximately 60% of this project will be executed through labour Intensive process in order to empower the local labourers and to provide technical skills to the local community”, says Mashele.The Wesselton project began 29 January 2018 and should be completed and handed over to the local community on at the end of June 2018.