By Staff Reporter
Cabinet has been briefed on various initiatives aimed at resolving water provision challenges across South Africa, focusing on reducing water losses, supporting municipalities and enhancing long-term water resource planning.
This is according to Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who briefed the media on the outcomes of the last Cabinet meeting for the year.
Ntshavheni said efforts to address water leaks are gaining momentum, with the eThekwini Municipality and Joburg Water implementing turnaround strategies developed with assistance from the National Treasury’s City Support Programme.
Additionally, the Department of Water and Sanitation, National Treasury, the SA Local Government Association and the Development Bank of Southern Africa have launched a Water Partnerships Office. This initiative supports municipalities in securing funding for projects aimed at reducing non-revenue water.
Ntshavheni said municipalities such as eThekwini, Buffalo City, Tshwane, Mangaung and Nelson Mandela Bay were being assisted to package these projects for funding.
“To further bolster efforts, National Treasury’s Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Unit is helping the City of Johannesburg partner with the private sector to reduce water losses,” said Ntshavheni.
“In addition to providing grant funding to water services uuthorities, the Cabinet was updated on two key reforms: amendments to the Water Services Act and the Metropolitan Trading Services Programme. These changes aim to enhance the delivery of water services nationwide.”
The Cabinet discussed several infrastructure projects intended to secure the nation’s water supply:
- Olifants Ebenezer Project: Set to increase water supply to Polokwane and Capricorn municipalities, this project includes pipeline and pumping station construction, expected to be completed by July 2025.
- Sinthumule Kutama Project: Targeted at enhancing water access in Makhado, the project is on track for completion by January 2025.
- Mooihoek Project: Designed to upgrade water treatment works and serve 13 villages near Burgersfort, the project is ready for municipal connection.
- Nebo Bulk Water Project: This initiative aims to provide water to 40 villages in Makuduthamaga and Greater Fetakgomo Tubatse Municipalities, with contractor appointments expected in the 2025/2026 financial year.
- Moutse Bulk Water Project: Scheduled for completion by September 2025, it will deliver water to 40 villages under Ephraim Mogale and Elias Motsoaledi municipalities.
- Loskop Bulk Water Project: Supplying water to Moutse East communities in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, the project is expected to conclude by March 2025.
- Mametja Water Project: Phase 1, benefiting 28 villages in Maruleng Local Municipality, is set to finish by December 2024, with Phase 2 commencing in 2025.
- Giyani Water Project: Rehabilitation of the water treatment works was completed in June 2024, with 11 of the targeted 24 villages already receiving yard water access. Work for the remaining villages will be completed by December 2024, followed by Phase 2 reticulation for an additional 31 villages starting in April 2025.
Hammanskraal water supply progress
The Cabinet welcomed the completion of Phase 1 of the Klipdrift package plant, which was now supplying 12.5 million liters of water daily to Hammanskraal communities, said Ntshavheni.
“Magalies Water and the City of Tshwane are clearing reticulation pipelines to distribute water and conducting quality tests. When fully operational, the system will deliver 50 million liters of treated water daily,” she said.
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