Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has commissioned the Maphumulo bulk water supply scheme in KwaMaphumulo, in the iLembe district municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal.

The scheme, funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), and implemented by uMngeni-uThukela Water, entails the upgrade of the water treatment works from six-million litres to producing an average of 11-million litres a day, the construction of a weir on the Hlimbitwa river and the installation of raw water pumps and bulk pipelines.

The increase in production capacity in the upgraded plant has improved the management of reservoirs, which are now sustaining adequate and healthy levels over a period of time, she said during an oversight visit during the commissioning.

This emerged as KwaZulu-Natal continues to face significant water supply challenges, particularly in rural areas where some communities still remain unserved with piped drinking water.

The Maphumulo bulk supply water project seeks to close that gap through supply of potable water to Maphumulo, Ngcebo, Maqumbi and KwaDukuza through the Ilembe district municipality, which is the water services authority for the areas.

Majodina also undertook an oversight visit to the Lower uMkhomazi bulk water project currently under construction on the South Coast, in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Lower uMkhomazi project comprises the construction of the off-channel storage Ngwadini dam, the Goodenough abstraction works on the banks of the uMkhomazi river and a 100-million-litre water treatment works.

The Ngwadini dam has now reached 63% completion and is expected to be completed in August next year, while the Goodenough abstraction works is above 90%, and will be completed in May 2026.

The construction of the 100 Mℓ water treatment plant starts within the next month, following a court ruling in favour of uMngeni-uThukela Water on February 13 to proceed with its construction after a bidder took the water entity to court over the awarding of the contract.

“The court case is over now; therefore, the contractor needs to start with the work. The contractor must finalise all the negotiations with all the relevant structures by end of March in order to start the construction of the treatment works,” Majodina noted.

To ensure that communities that are currently facing water supply deficit and are only to be served when the project is complete, uMngeni-uThukela Water is conceptualising a package plant to be constructed as an interim solution to ensure that the communities, particularly those in eThekwini South and Ugu district, receive water.

The Lower uMkhomazi project forms part of the broader uMkhomazi dam project, which is currently under construction.

The development will provide long-term water relief to municipalities including the eThekwini metropolitan municipality and the ILembe, Ugu, Harry Gwala and uMgungundlovu district municipalities.

Majodina, while satisfied with the progress made on the project, reiterated the importance of accountability, proper contract management and adherence to project deadlines, indicating a serious concern about financial implications of prolonged project delays.

While technical and operational challenges may arise, these must not result in uncontrolled cost escalations, she said.

“This project was blocked for the longest of time because we were unable to fundraise enough funds that we needed in this project, but also we had to deal with some community concerns,” Majodina commented.

“We are satisfied with the progress made on site since the last visit in July last year. We are happy that we were able to go directly into the project site because of the progress made.”

Meanwhile, uMngeni-uThukela Water needed to start negotiating with eThekwini about the possible package plant to serve those communities that were in distress, Majodina concluded.