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IOL News
21-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works to enhance water and sanitation security in KZN Midlands
The Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Plant was commissioned on Friday. Image: Sello Seitlholo, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation / Facebook The government has taken another step towards addressing issues of water and sanitation security in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands with the commissioning of the Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works, a project valued at R450 million. The project is a key part of the government's efforts to ensure water and sanitation security in the uMgungundlovu District. The department stated that the treatment works complement the Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme. The Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme is currently undergoing major upgrades to allow it to supply water to hundreds of thousands of residents in the Vulindlela area under the Msunduzi Municipality, who have not had tap water for more than five years. In July 2023, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DSW) held a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of upgrades for Phase 1 of the Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme, a mega water supply project. It was stated at the time that the project, upon completion, will provide safe drinking water to communities in the uMngeni and Msunduzi Local Municipalities and surrounding areas in the district. The Mpophomeni wastewater project was launched this past Friday and is expected to address the sanitation and water challenges of 27,000 people in and around the Mpophomeni area. Residents in upper Vulindlela have highlighted their concerns regarding the need for water security, pointing out that for the past few years, they have had to rely on erratic supply from water tankers or fetch water from a borehole that belongs to a local doctor's office. They revealed that the municipality recently drilled a borehole, which malfunctioned, and residents were asked to pay towards its repairs. During Friday's launch, Deputy Ministers Sello Seitlholo and David Mahlobo provided a progress update on Phase 1 of the Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme. The Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme, one of the government's most successful post-1994 infrastructure projects, is located west of Pietermaritzburg. Initially constructed in 1998 and later designated a National Presidential Lead Project, the scheme is being upgraded in response to population growth in Vulindlela and increased municipal water demand. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works is intended to serve the communities of Mpophomeni, Khayelisha, and surrounding areas, benefiting approximately 27,000 residents. Image: Sello Seitlholo, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation / Facebook A major component of the Phase 1 upgrade is the construction of a new reservoir that will increase drinking water storage by 20 megalitres per day, bringing the total to 35 megalitres per day to ensure more consistent water distribution to communities across the region. Additional infrastructure includes new pipelines between reservoirs, a new pump station, and an augmented power supply. This project complements the commissioned Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works. Together, these two strategic infrastructure projects form part of the department's integrated efforts to ensure long-term water and sanitation security for communities in the uMgungundlovu District. Speaking at the launch, Mahlobo stated that the project's commissioning 'marks a major step forward for service delivery, water security, and cooperative governance in KwaZulu-Natal.' The Mpophomeni infrastructure project is designed to significantly improve sanitation services, protect sensitive wetland ecosystems, and enhance the quality of life for communities. It is currently operating at a treatment capacity of 6 million litres per day, with provision for future expansion to 12 million litres per day. The facility includes a 7-kilometre treated effluent pipeline and the rehabilitation of the Mpophomeni wetland. Seitlholo welcomed the commissioning while issuing a firm call to action to municipalities. 'The success of Mpophomeni proves that service delivery is possible when all spheres of government work together. But we cannot stop here. Municipalities must build on this momentum and address governance gaps, strengthening technical capacity and accelerating delivery. Our citizens deserve systems that work and leaders who make that happen without delay,' said Seitlholo. THE MERCURY
eNCA
01-07-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Mahlobo leads SA at global finance meeting
JOHANNESBURG - The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development is underway in Sevilla, Spain. South Africa is participating through Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, who is leading efforts to mobilise support for the country's water sector.
eNCA
28-06-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
ANC clears four NEC members allegedly linked to State Capture
JOHANNESBURG - The ANC has cleared four of its NEC members who were previously implicated in allegations related to State Capture. The members are Zizi Kodwa, David Mahlobo, Malusi Gigaba, and Cedric Frolick, had been charged internally for allegedly contravening Rule 25.17.1 of the ANC's constitution. The rule relates to members acting in a manner that is inconsistent with the values, principles, and objectives of the party. Their alleged involvement in State Capture matters had raised concerns within the party, particularly given the ANC's ongoing attempts to restore public trust ahead of a shifting political landscape and intensifying coalition dynamics.
The Citizen
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Water projects worth R50bn to be constructed in Limpopo while progress on older projects stalls
Although construction of some of the bulk water projects began years ago, most are yet to get off the ground. The Limpopo provincial government is working with the department of water and sanitation (DWS) to construct new bulk water projects worth more than R50 billion, while many of the province's other water projects are either stalled or progressing at a snail's pace. Outlining some of the long-term bulk water projects at The Ranch Hotel, near Polokwane last weekend, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo said he was worried that the completion of Limpopo's water projects had been delayed for extended periods. 'The DWS does not have the capacity to implement water services projects directly. We are not provided with funding to establish this capacity because water services are a municipal function and not a DWS function,' he said. ALSO READ: R213m down the drain as Limpopo residents still have no water Mahlobo said progress meetings with all the water services authorities are held every month. 'But despite these measures, projects are still often delayed, primarily due to poor performance by contractors and payment service providers.' Limpopo's water projects delayed The Citizen understands that although construction of some of these long-term bulk water projects began many years ago, most are yet to get off the ground. For example, the Giyani water treatment works is still appointing an implementing agent and construction is only expected to start in July 2025. The Giyani bulk water project began in 2014 with a budget of R900 million. It was meant to be completed in August 2017, but the project is still not complete. It has so far cost the government more than R4.5 billion. The Mooihoek/Tubatse bulk water supply project is almost complete, with the contractor currently addressing a snag list to finalise the project. The Nebo bulk water supply is still in the scoping phase. Offtake to Schoonoord (Phase 3C) and Marulaneng (Phase 3B) is complete, but functionality depends on the completion of Malekana to the Jane-Furse pipeline. The R129 Mametja/Sekororo bulk water supply Phase 1 is delayed due to Eskom power connections, while RM04 experienced the same electricity problems for the water treatment works and boreholes. ALSO READ: Multi-billion Limpopo mega-project has ground to a halt Addressing a South African Local Government Association (Salga) lekgotla in Polokwane last week, Mahlobo said many water and sanitation projects in Limpopo have been subjected to lengthy delays. Mahlobo blamed corruption in the DWS and implementing agents, poor planning, poor performance of contractors, weak project and contract management by implementing agents, vandalism and theft, and illegal connections. Investigations into the Giyani water project by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) are ongoing. The former CEO and CFO of Lepelle Northern Water (LNW), a state-owned water utility responsible for bulk water provision in Limpopo, resigned. One LNW manager has been charged and dismissed. The SIU is also filing criminal and civil litigation to recover funds. New water projects Some of the long-term bulk water projects to begin between 2025 and 2030 are the N'wamitwa Dam, with an estimated budget of R6 billion, the Beitbridge/Musina intergrated water supply scheme, with an estimated R2 billion budget and the 10-year R25 billion Olifants management model water project. This massive project is meant to supply water to three municipalities, Jane Furse, Mogalakwena and Polokwane. Phase 1 of the project began last year. When complete, it is expected to provide water to 39 000 households. Phase 1 of the Olifants/Ebenezer bulk water scheme began last year with an estimated cost of R18 billion. The project is scheduled to start pumping 114 megalitres of water per day in 2027 and ultimately 270 megalitres of water per day in 2029. NOW READ: R3bn allocated to fix Limpopo's roads and build new ones
Mail & Guardian
10-06-2025
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Water and sanitation department ramping up reforms, interventions to avoid water crisis
Water and sanitation minister, Pemmy Majodina. (DWS/X) The department of water and sanitation (DWS) is intensifying infrastructure development, municipal support and institutional reform to avert a worsening national water crisis, it told parliament's standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday. The department's director general Sean Phillips said, although national raw water supply remained broadly in balance with demand, infrastructure strain, municipal dysfunction, corruption and high water losses had placed critical pressure on service delivery, particularly in Gauteng and Phillips said, according to the department's asset register, 81% of the national water resource infrastructure was either in 'a fair condition, good condition or very good condition and we are raising finance for investment in new water infrastructure'. At a 'Generally speaking, municipal water and sanitation infrastructure is not at all in a good condition. Water services have 'It's also about municipalities not hiring people with the right skills to properly manage and operate the water infrastructure.' Last week, the auditor general told Scopa that the water and sanitation department and its associated entities were incurring billions of rand in losses because of pervasive poor planning and project delays. Deputy Minister David Mahlobo told the committee on Tuesday that non-revenue water losses stood at 52% in Gauteng and 62% in eThekwini. Of the 144 water services authorities in municipalities in the country, 105 were performing 'dismally', Minister She said her department formed part of an inter-ministerial committee that would send teams to the 'top 20' worst affected municipalities to intervene. Several structural reforms had been implemented, said Phillips. These include amendments to the Water Services Act that aim to separate the roles of Water Services Authorities and Water Services Providers; ring-fencing revenue collected from water tariffs for use in water services only and the introduction of single-point accountability for service delivery. The reforms are supported by the treasury's Reform of Metropolitan Trading Services Programme and Phase 2 of South Africa ranks among the 30 most water-scarce countries in the world, yet the average per capita consumption remains well above the global average. Phillips said that to ensure raw water security in the future, three things were needed: more dams, diversification of the country's water mix and more effective conservation and demand management. Addressing the high number of She used the example of pollution, saying the department would first talk to offending municipalities, then warn them and eventually take the non-compliant to court. Those cases lasted for five to seven years, she said, and in that time, the pollution continued. Infrastructure backlogs have been another area of concern. For years, major national surface water projects have been stalled, including phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, the uMzimvubu and uMkhomazi projects. These are now in the implementation phase. Progress had also been made in unblocking long-delayed municipal projects. In the Giyani water project, for example, phase 1 had brought piped water to all households in 23 of 24 villages, while phase 2, which will extend services to 31 more villages, is set to begin later this year. The department has deployed water boards to support struggling municipalities in Gauteng, Free State, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. Interventions here include infrastructure repairs, sewer unblocking, pump station refurbishments and restoring municipal operation and maintenance functions. In Emfuleni, Rand Water has led an intervention aimed at curbing To address mounting debt, the water department, in partnership with the treasury, has introduced credit control measures, a debt write-off mechanism and the withholding of equitable share transfers for non-compliant municipalities. The department said it had also taken a firm stance on sanitation. It has gazetted new norms and standards declaring bucket toilets unacceptable and is promoting chemical toilets and water-efficient, non-sewered sanitation technologies in dense informal settlements. The Bucket Eradication Programme, originally managed by the department of human settlements and now under the water and sanitation portfolio, has completed bucket replacements in the Eastern Cape and North West. Projects in the Free State and Northern Cape are nearing completion. Efforts to professionalise the department include a revised organisational structure and the appointment of qualified senior management. Improved financial controls have seen the department move from Audit performance has improved, said Phillips, with the department now receiving unqualified audits with findings and implementing a roadmap to achieve clean audits. It has also significantly reduced irregular and unauthorised expenditure compared to 2017-18 levels. Anti-corruption measures have also been strengthened, according to the department. Its internal audit unit finalised 446 investigations between 2019 and 2025, confirming 326 cases of misconduct. Disciplinary outcomes included dismissals, suspensions and demotions. A new Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum, launched jointly with the Special Investigating Unit in May 2025, aims to improve enforcement and information sharing.
