AECI Eco-Schools Water Education Project Report 2020

Situating the project

Hammanskraal was established in the 1940s when an influx of migrant workers settled on an uninhibited farm. The farm was in proximity to the Kekana tribal land, also known as Amandebele- ba-lebelo tribal authority. Historically there has been tension between settlers who continued to stream in and the Kekana tribe. This hasn’t changed post-apartheid. The town is now a conglomerate of farms and tribal land. Hammanskraal is a small-town north of Pretoria, in the Tshwane Metro almost on the borders of the North West province. There has been disfunction and challenges in the local municipality for many years. The residents consider themselves forgotten citizens. The area has socio-economic and environmental problems ranging from poverty, inequality, corruption, unemployment, pollution and mismanagement of water services. Businesses are forced to move out of the area due to low productivity caused by lack of water. This increasing the unemployment rate. Hammanskraal is renowned for hot average temperatures of 40 0 C. Water is therefore essential. Unfortunately, tenders were granted to service providers to restore the water treatment plant. They failed and sewage spilled into the Leeukraal Dam, the only water source servicing Hammanskraal. The water has been declared unsafe for human consumption. Water trucks are distributed around the town daily and residents have to line up for their quota of water.

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AECI Hammanskraal 2020