The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has unveiled a new special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to restore the full functionality of Emfuleni local municipality’s embattled water and sanitation systems.

The newly launched Vaal Corporation Water Utility will take full responsibility for managing, operating and rehabilitating all water and sanitation services in the municipality.

“As we begin this new chapter, we are rebuilding Emfuleni pipe by pipe and pump station by pump station. This SPV is not a bailout or a temporary fix. It is a turning point and an investment in dignity, stability and long-term development,” assures Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo.

Established through a partnership between Rand Water Services and Emfuleni’s Metsi-a- Lekwa, the SPV is expected to stabilise operations, rehabilitate key infrastructure, strengthen revenue management and implement systems that prioritise community needs.

“The SPV represents a fundamental shift toward stable, capable and accountable water services management,” he says, noting that it serves as a long-term structural solution to decades of failing systems, neglected infrastructure and institutional weaknesses.

“It is specifically designed to reverse years of infrastructure decay, restore reliable supply and ensure that every household and business in Emfuleni receives the essential services they deserve.”

Over the past few years, communities in Emfuleni have faced prolonged water outages, wastewater spills, polluted environments and a 75% nonrevenue water rate.

“The establishment of this independent and professional utility is one of the most important service-delivery reforms introduced by the department in Gauteng in recent years,” Mahlobo comments, reaffirming the department’s commitment to ensuring that water and sanitation services in Emfuleni are fully restored and sustainably maintained.

The SPV also aligns with the Water Services Amendment Bill and Operation Vulindlela Phase 2, both of which support the establishment of capable and ring-fenced water services providers that operate with clear accountability and modern technical standards.

Mahlobo has issued a firm warning against vandalism, illegal connections and criminal acts targeted at water infrastructure, urging residents to safeguard public assets, report wrongdoing and collaborate with the teams deployed across Emfuleni as the DWS and its partners work to rebuild the system.

He calls on labour, civil society, industry, faith-based organisations and young people to unite behind the restoration effort and to help shape a future where water security for all is guaranteed.