Latest news with #PemmyMajodina
Eyewitness News
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Eyewitness News
Water and Sanitation Dept says not responsible for delays in Lesotho Highlands Water Project
JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Water and Sanitation says it is not responsible for the delays in reactivating the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). The tunnel, which had been undergoing maintenance since October last year, was not restored to operation by its scheduled deadline at the end of March. Its main function is to transport over 700 million cubic meters of water annually from Lesotho to at least five South African provinces to ensure water security in the region. The tunnel was finally brought back online on Sunday. Over the past seven months, the department, in collaboration with its Lesotho counterpart, has been meticulously carrying out maintenance on the LHWP. READ: Water from Lesotho gushes into SA's conduits 7 months after shutdown The 38-kilometre-long tunnel required a thorough inspection for surface cracks and corrosion. It was recoated using 43,000 litres of paint. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said the work on the South African side was completed before the end of March, with delays occurring primarily on the Lesotho side. "On the Lesotho side, they were not done. Their delays were caused by inclement weather and they requested an additional three weeks. We were patient with them because we also received heavy rain, so we had to allow them to do things in the correct manner." The tunnel is now back in operation, transporting water from Lesotho into South Africa's Vaal River integrated system.
Eyewitness News
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Eyewitness News
Water from Lesotho gushes into SA's conduits 7 months after shutdown
CLARENS - Water is now gushing from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWT) tunnel into South Africa after being out of operation for seven months. Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina officially launched the reopening of the tunnel in the Free State today. The 38-kilometre tunnel channels more than 700 million cubic meters of water from Lesotho to South Africa annually. It was dewatered in October last year to allow for essential maintenance inside and outside the tunnel. ALSO READ: When Eyewitness News last visited the (LHWT) tunnel in October last year, it was completely dry — without a single drop of water in sight. Instead, what could be seen were dozens of engineers and construction workers conducting inspections inside the tunnel. They were sealing surface cracks, protecting the structure against corrosion, and assessing its overall structural integrity. On Sunday, water is flowing through the tunnel into South Africa at full capacity, en route to the Vaal River integrated system. Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo says the tunnel is now fit to operate for another five years. "This planned maintenance could not have been postponed. If it was postponed, there would have been far reaching implications around supply and assurance." Majodina says she's pleased that, despite the tunnel being out of service for seven months, the country did not experience a water shortage.
eNCA
17-05-2025
- Health
- eNCA
R450m and 14 months to complete first phase of Rooiwal wastewater plant
HAMMANSKRAAL - The first phase of the Rooiwal Water Treatment Plant in Tshwane is expected to be completed by July 2026. Although, to do that, the city needs R450-million, money it does not have. READ | Majodina to visit Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant, Klipdrift Package Plant Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina visited the plant to check on progress. It's been marred by allegations of corruption linked to a R315-million contract. The plant is believed to be the source of a cholera outbreak in 2023 that left dozens dead in Hammanskraal. eNCA reporter Bafedile Moerane filed this report.
eNCA
16-05-2025
- Health
- eNCA
Majodina to visit Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant, Klipdrift Package Plant
JOHANNESBURG - Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, will visit the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Klipdrift Package Plant in Hammanskraal, Tshwane. The Rooiwal project has faced years of scrutiny, marred by allegations of corruption linked to a R315-million contract - now under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit. The City of Tshwane has committed R450 million over the next three years to completing the stalled project. The minister's visit comes in the wake of a deadly 2023 cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, which claimed dozens of lives due to contaminated water.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
South Africa launches new forum to combat water sector corruption
Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina welcomes the launch of the WSACF. Image: Supplied South Africa has taken a major step in its battle against corruption with the official launch of the Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (WSACF). The forum is a strategic initiative to address rising corruption risks in the country's water sector and is rooted in Pillar Six of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), which focuses on protecting vulnerable sectors through robust risk management and accountability measures. Special Investigating Unit (SIU) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the establishment of the WSACF is a whole-of-society call to action to root out corruption in water management. 'This collaborative model strengthens accountability, closes gaps, and implements measurable and actionable prevention plans.' said Kganyago. The forum brings together an unprecedented coalition of stakeholders from government departments, municipalities, civil society, regulators, traditional leaders, and the private sector, united by the common goal of ensuring clean, transparent water governance. This initiative follows the findings of 14 Special Investigating Unit proclamations involving the Department of Water and Sanitation, with eight investigations concluded and five still active. According to the SIU, these cases highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated anti-corruption response. The WSACF is also a direct response to international and continental commitments. It aligns with the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group's Priority Three, the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030's goals on water security, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ The forum was launched shortly after South Africa assumed the chairpersonship of the Association of Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Agencies from Ghana during a regional conference held in Cape Town. Adv. Andy Mothibi, Head of the SIU, now leads the association for the 2025–2026 term. Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, welcomed the initiative, noting that it builds on the department's existing corruption prevention strategy. 'The WSACF strengthens the collective resolve to tackle graft decisively in the water sector,' she said. The forum's key objectives include supporting sector-wide anti-corruption initiatives, improving investigative coordination, ensuring real outcomes such as prosecutions and recoveries, and promoting transparency within anti-corruption bodies themselves. The WSACF also builds on the tested success of similar sector-based forums, including those focused on health, infrastructure, local government, and border management. Independent evaluations of these forums have highlighted their role in improving accountability and delivering real results. The forum is now calling on water organisations, conservationists, academics, and community activists to join the movement. 'This is premised on the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which envisages a whole-of-society approach,' said Kganyago. IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
