The City’s Water and Sanitation Department recently celebrated the success that its Bulk Water branch achieved in maintaining its health, safety and quality standards while facing a drought so rare it only has a chance of return every 311 years. Even during this unprecedented drought, health and safety standards did not suffer.

​​

This City branch manages various catchments, dams, reservoirs and water treatment plants across Cape Town. The SHREQ (Safety, Health, Risk, Environmental and Quality) award was implemented in 2013 to encourage best practice at these City facilities and depots.

However due to the drought crisis and having to deploy absolutely all capacity and focus toward the crisis, an awards ceremony could not be held in 2016 or 2017 and therefore the award winners for both periods were recognised this year.

‘We are truly proud of these individuals and honour them for their performance which always exceeds expectations. We knew throughout the drought crisis that we were in safe and expert hands who, together with the people of Cape Town, did their very best to get us through the drought, not only in our bulk water branches but also in our reticulation section, and all of our water professionals in general,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy, Councillor Xanthea Limberg.

Barry Wood, Manager: Bulk Water, Water and Sanitation Department, added: ‘By ensuring that the safety, health, risk and quality issues of workplaces are kept to a high standard, the City is able to provide the best water services to our customers. We thank these and the many other City staff members who always take time to ensure that their workplace is a safe; healthy; environmentally-friendly and quality driven environment. These internal systems are a prerequisite for top service delivery.’

Award highlights:

• 2017 SHREQ Champion: Joyce Sofisa
  Joyce works at the Wynberg Reservoir. Joyce is from Luzuko, Gugulethu and is passionate about safety and quality standards at her workplace. Her life motto being ‘half measures avails us nothing’, speaks volumes as to why there could not be a more fitting recipient for this award.
• 2017 Best Area Manager: Douglas Kiewiet
  Douglas is from Kuils River and was recognised for maintaining regular area engagements and staff meetings pertaining to health and safety issues despite all the pressure and time constraints their teams were facing during the drought crisis. He continued to conduct all relevant process audits and was present during all internal and external audits at the depots within his area, which is indicative of his commitment as a leader and his drive to prioritise health and safety within the environments he is responsible for.
• 2016 Best Large Plant Manager Award: Frans Jacobus Tredoux
  Frans manages the Steenbras Water Scheme
• 2017 Best Large Plant Manager Award: Graham Alexander
  Graham manages the Voëlvlei Water Treatment Plant
• 2016 and 2017 Best Small Plant Depot Manager: Thurston Appels
  Thurston manages the Brooklands Water Scheme.
  

The 2016 and 2017 SHREQ staff awards were nominated by the depot managers for their commitment to the improvement of the City’s Bulk Water branch SHREQ system.

The following staff were recognised:

• 2016 Constantia Nek Water Treatment Plant: Margaret James from Retreat.
• 2017 Kloofnek Water Treatment Plant: Rocco de Vos who resides at the Kloofnek Plant staff house
• 2016 Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant: Eugene Williams who resides at the Wemmershoek Plant staff house.
• 2017 Plattekloof Reservoir: Stephen Bryan from from Bluedowns.
• 2016 Steenbras Water Treatment Plant: Malcolm Du Toit from Grabouw.
• 2017 Blackheath Water Treatment Plant: Musa Rolomana from Kraaifontein.

Conveyance team
2016: Garrison Wilson from Instrumentation Section from Ruiterwacht.
2017: Milton Sedonie from Mainlaying Section from Tuscuny Glen

Continual Leadership and Commitment Award 2017
Peter Flower, the City’s previous Water and Sanitation Director, who helped to steer Cape Town through the drought successfully and is now heading up the City’s water augmentation programme was also honoured for his continuous leadership and commitment to the SHREQ system.

End