To improve sewerage and stormwater infrastructure maintenance, Govan Mbeki municipality in Mpumalanga has invested in a new local pump manufacturer Werner Pumps combination jetting and vacuuming truck.

The municipality took delivery of the multinational automobile manufacturer Nissan-mounted combination unit in December 2021, with the official handover taking place in January.

The Werner Pumps 12 500 ℓ combination unit that Govan Mbeki municipality ordered costs about R3-million and can be supplied with a Nissan or automotive manufacturer Toyota chassis.

It is fitted with state-of-the-art hydraulically operated jetting and vacuum functionality.

It offers a tilting 12 500 ℓ, 304 stainless steel tank with a hydraulically driven high-pressure pump with a capacity of 295 ℓ/min at 135 bar and a hydraulically driven vacuum pump, with 1 700 m3/hr suction capability. 

Govan Mbeki municipality assistant fleet manager Rupert Pretorius says the municipality is very impressed with the truck’s performance to date.

“I’d definitely recommend the vehicle to anyone, municipality or private company, looking to buy a jetting and vacuuming truck,” he adds.

Further, the decision to procure the truck from Werner Pumps was made owing to the company being listed with Transversal Contracting, which is responsible for the facilitation and management of transversal term contracts on behalf of the National Treasury.

This ensures that government supply chain management practices are aligned with the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act.

“We found that there was an extreme need for this truck because we had previously had to keep hiring a truck,” Pretorius points out.

The municipality decided that the cost of repeatedly hiring a combination unit outweighed investing in one and took the decision to acquire its own vehicle.

“We had previously purchased a unit in 2018, but this is an upgrade in terms of spec. It is a large capital expense, but we view it as a long-term investment,” says Pretorius.

It is extremely beneficial to the municipality in terms of being able to maintain the municipal sewerage systems, especially within rural areas.

He explains that when there is a need to hire a truck, there is a convoluted supply chain process, from putting in a requisition to obtaining quotations, getting an order, and then checking the availability of the truck.

“With our own truck, it is immediately available to us, which is extremely convenient,” he enthuses.

Werner Pumps MD Sebastian Werner says that it offered operator training to the municipality before handing over the unit.

“We are glad to hear the unit is working well and helping Govan Mbeki municipality to improve its service delivery to local communities,” he says.

“We’re also proud that our local municipalities are choosing to opt for our units, which are 100% manufactured in South Africa.”

He points out that Werner Pumps prides itself on offering trucks that are fit for purpose and that will be reliable and help local government to keep infrastructure in working order.

“We supply trucks to many municipalities throughout the country and to the companies that contract to them, and it’s always great to get positive feedback.”

Govan Mbeki municipality mayor Nhlakanipho Zuma, said the Council took this positive initiative to buy the new Werner Pumps Impi combination jetting and vacuuming truck in response to sewer challenges in the district.

He concludes that the Govan Mbeki municipality is troubled by sewer spills, a human rights issue, however, this equipment will help to address these challenges.