The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) will prioritise much-needed investment into water infrastructure over the duration of South Africa’s seventh administration.

As the department works towards water security in different parts of the country, it is investing in robust planning activities for water and sanitation projects to identify the most viable and sustainable options, based on lifecycle costing and environmental, practicality, security and climate change considerations.

“During the term of this seventh administration, we will be prioritising investment in both bulk water supply and municipal water reticulation infrastructure to ensure that we provide access to the remaining 10% of our population currently without access to water as quickly as possible,” said Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo.

Speaking during the department’s tabling of its Budget Vote before the National Council of Provinces late last month, he said that R153-billion has been set aside for infrastructure investment over the next seven years as part of the drive towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6.

This includes R105-billion for several bulk water projects across the country and to accelerate the implementation of a range of previously delayed major water services projects, such as the Giyani bulk water project, in Limpopo.

The remaining components of the Giyani water project, including the bulk pipeline and reticulation, are being finalised to deliver water to the region.

“This is a result of good progress that was made in unblocking and accelerating the project in the sixth administration, and this will remain a focus for the new administration,” he said.

The main bulk pipeline from Nandoni dam to Nsami dam, near Giyani, was completed in March 2023, and the refurbishment and optimisation of the Giyani water treatment works was completed in mid-June this year.

Under the first phase, which comprises the water reticulation of 24 of the targeted 55 villages, the reticulation of nine villages has been completed, with another 15 of the 24 villages expected to receive water by the end of this month.

The second phase of the Giyani reticulation project, which will provide water to the remaining 31 villages, is expected to start later in 2024, with completion expected mid-2026.

Meanwhile, in the Free State, the Vaal Central Water Board is assisting the Maluti-a-Phofung and Matjhabeng local municipalities with a range of projects aimed at addressing the dire state of water and sanitation infrastructure in the two municipalities.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board and Zululand district municipality are accelerating the Mandlakazi bulk water supply scheme, which includes the abstraction of raw water from Jozini dam, the laying of 28 km of bulk line, a pump station and the upgrading of Mandlakazi water treatment works and the Mkhuze water treatment works, besides others.

The Ugu district municipality is also implementing various projects aimed at improving water supply and reducing nonrevenue water.

“In Limpopo and Mpumalanga, we are rolling out the Loskop regional bulk water, which involves the construction of a bulk pipeline from Loskop dam in Mpumalanga to Thembisile Hani local municipality in Mpumalanga for domestic water supply,” said Mahlobo.

The bulk pipeline passes through the Moutse-East area in the Sekhukhune district municipality of Limpopo, and the project includes distribution infrastructure to supply treated water to villages in Moutse-East valued at R1.67-billion.

Further, Lepelle Northern Water, also in Limpopo, is implementing the R4.7-billion Phase 1 of the Olifants Ebenezer project, which aims to unlock sustainable water provision for Polokwane, Seshego and surrounding areas.

Phase 1 is part of a ten-year R18-billion programme.

Meanwhile, Rand Water, in Gauteng, continues to assist the Emfuleni and Midvaal local municipalities with projects to address the sanitation challenges in the Vaal region.