Latest news with #WaterandSanitation
The South African
5 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Water shortages in Brits to soon be a thing of the past
The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo Image via Instagram: david_mahlobo Home » Water shortages in Brits to soon be a thing of the past The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo Image via Instagram: david_mahlobo On 5 June 2025, the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo will conduct an oversight visit to the Brits Water Treatment Works. Brits WTW falls under the Madibeng Local Municipality, where Mahlobo will be assessing the progress made on upgrading the facility. 'The deputy minister will be accompanied by the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Gaoage Oageng Molapisi', said Water Department spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa. The executive mayor of Madibeng Municipality, Douglas Maimane, will also be in attendance. He will be flanked by traditional leaders and other dignitaries at the event said Mavasa. 'The upgrade project of Brits Water Treatment Works is worth more than R80 million fundedby the Department of Water and Sanitation through its Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant,' said Mavasa. The grant is implemented by Magalies Water Board. Once the project is completed, it will benefit over 75 373 households in the Brits area and surroundings. Mavasa believes this will be a welcomed relief since Brits and other areas nearby are constantly affected by water shortages. According to Mavasa, the project is practically completed. However she cautioned that there are final touches being made on the civil, mechanical and electrical works elements. In order for the upgrades to be successful, all the elements need to be completed said Mavasa. 'As of this month, civil engineering works are at 97%, mechanical engineering at 89%, while electrical engineering works stand at 70%,' she continued. The overall completion of the upgrading project is expected to be completed at the end of August 2025. The water department said this is the deadline they are working towards. Today Mahlobo will be assessing if this goal is attainable. IS YOUR AREA AFFECTED BY WATER SHORTAGES? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Here's how many millions SA sends to Lesotho each month for water
Meanwhile, Lesotho has a pretty hefty VAT bill. South Africa pays approximately R230 million monthly in royalties to Lesotho for water from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, while Lesotho owes R513 million in outstanding value-added tax (VAT) refunds as of February 2024. These monthly payments drop to around R120 million during periods when water delivery is disrupted. According to a briefing on Tuesday by the Department of Water and Sanitation to the portfolio committee on Water and Sanitation, the royalty structure operates on a 56-44% split favouring Lesotho. Teboho Nkhahle, South African Chief Delegate to the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission, confirmed South Africa 'started paying the revised royalties in January 2024' following recalculations using updated methodologies. 'We are currently paying around R230 million a month. But in the last six months, because there was no water being delivered and no electricity being generated, we're paying around R120 million a month.' The current treaty includes a 12-year review cycle for royalty rates. Committee members called for external auditing by the Auditor General of South Africa to provide more rigorous oversight. South Africa's Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo indicated willingness to explore such arrangements, stating: 'We will mandate our teams that we should find modalities… that are more credible on ensuring that even that institution is on the other side.' The R513 million VAT debt represents outstanding VAT refunds that Lesotho owes to South Africa. Nkhahle confirmed that diplomatic efforts are underway to resolve these financial obligations. Lesotho Highlands Water Project costs escalate to R53.3 billion The second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project will deliver an additional 490 million cubic meters of water annually to South Africa, supplementing 780 million cubic meters from Phase One. The water primarily serves Gauteng province. The project operates under the 1986 treaty between South Africa and Lesotho, with oversight from the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission, comprising six commissioners from each country. Mahlobo confirmed that the project remains on track for commissioning by 2029, despite recent setbacks, including contractor suspensions due to negligence and concerns over pollution. 'The project is proceeding,' Mahlobo stated, emphasising that different work packages continue simultaneously even when specific components face delays. The project's budget has escalated significantly from its original estimates, with current projections at R53.3 billion. Originally estimated to cost R42.06 billion, the project escalated to R53.3 billion. Mahlobo reaffirmed that water delivery is expected by August 2028, with completion scheduled for September 2028. Construction progress has reached 77% for major components. Nkahle explained that the R53.3 billion long-term cost plan already includes R6.2 billion in contingencies. 'This escalation and contingencies [are ]already built into this long-term cost plan, and also furthermore, each contract also has built in contingency,' Nkhahle said. ALSO READ: Completion date for R53 billion Lesotho Highlands Water Project postponed again Lesotho Highlands Water Project financial structure Committee members expressed concern about the impact on water tariffs and the need for transparency in cost management. 'All of us who are very worried, very worried around the issues of cost escalation, some of the cost escalation is because of the issues of contingencies,' Mahlobo acknowledged during the briefing. South Africa bears all cost-related payments through the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), which borrows from markets and recovers costs through water tariffs. Water tariffs have been negotiated with end users, such as Randwater, 'over CPI' to account for escalating costs. The funding strategy incorporates long-term loans to prevent sharp tariff increases. Additionally, 33% of project costs are allocated to acid mine drainage treatment, a decision made to protect the quality of water being transferred from Lesotho. Percy Sechemane, TCTA CEO, confirmed the funding arrangements where South Africa receives 'the enduring benefit of water transfer.' ALSO READ: Full Vaal Dam to the rescue as Lesotho Highlands Water Project takes bad turn Contractor suspension and pollution issues A major contractor was temporarily suspended due to negligence, specifically related to pollution in the construction area. The suspension was triggered by environmental concerns affecting water quality in the Katse Dam reservoir. 'The contractor was indeed actually suspended. That's the report we got,' Mahlobo confirmed, adding that the minister had to intervene after the matter became public through media reports. Nkhahle confirmed that 'that suspension has been lifted and the 1,300 workers who were temporarily laid off resumed work this morning.' The engineer accepted interim measures implemented by contractors, along with a comprehensive remedial plan to address environmental concerns. Nkhahle clarified that the pollution was 'localised and insignificant due to the size of the effluent that was running into the reservoir in relation to the total volume of the reservoir.' However, he noted it was significant from a construction monitoring perspective. ALSO READ: Gauteng residents warned to brace for major water disruptions this week Treaty review and financial management The current treaty includes a 12-year review cycle for royalty rates, but committee members questioned why reviews don't occur annually to match maintenance and operational cost variations. Percy Sechemane, CEO of the TCTA, explained that the lengthy review period provides stability for funders. 'The treaty itself is an instrument that a lot of thought went into from both South Africa and Lesotho,' he said, noting that frequent changes would make financiers uncomfortable about their investments. Sechemane also confirmed that water tariffs have already been negotiated with end users like Randwater to account for the escalated costs, with increases 'over CPI on the South African side so that we can close that gap.' Lesotho Highlands young professionals' programme The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority's Young Professionals Programme currently has 60 graduates. However, only five are from South Africa despite 39 being offered opportunities. According to project officials, South African graduates declined participation due to low stipends and challenging working conditions in the mountains. NOW READ: Municipal water crisis 'nothing to do with bulk water supply', says minster at LHWP reopening
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.
The South African
20-05-2025
- General
- The South African
Bad flushing habits choke sewers in affluent Cape Town area
According to the City of Cape Town, Water and Sanitation teams responded to 1 072 sewer blockages in Camps Bay, Bakoven, Clifton, and Sea Point between July 2023 and March 2025. Many of the incidents along this affluent part of the Atlantic Seaboard were caused by wet wipes and other non-flushable items ending up in the sewer system. 'We see an increase in the prevalence of wet wipes blocking sewer pipes,' said Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien. 'These should be discarded in the bin to be collected along with other refuse.' Nearly 30% of sewer blockages are from foreign objects, including wet wipes. Image: CoCT The public's tendency to flush wet wipes, nappies, and other foreign objects is giving the City a serious headache. It not only damages infrastructure and causes sewer overflows, but threatens the environment, the City said on Tuesday. The statement also identified other causes of sewer blockages in Camps Bay, Bakoven, Clifton and Sea Point: 26% foreign objects (wet wipes, sanitary towels, nappies) 18% roots of trees 9% rags 6% fats from restaurants and eateries 8% other causes The remaining 33% likely stemmed from issues further up the network, or had cleared before crews arrived. 'They could also be the result of high flows due to rain, which could have subsided by the time teams went to site,' the City said. Nonetheless, the volume of repeat call-outs – sometimes just days apart – highlights what city officials are describing as 'ongoing irresponsible behaviour' in high-use areas. Badroodien is urging all residents and visitors to Camps Bay, Clifton, Bakoven and Sea Point NOT to flush wet wipes, nappies, sanitary towels, ear buds or any other foreign items down the toilet. 'These items do not break down like human waste and toilet paper, and severely damage our sewer infrastructure,' he added. The public have been told to place all other waste in bins, and to use the City's drop-off facilities to get rid of recyclables. Residents are also encouraged to report sewer blockages, overflows, and vandalism through the City's official channels. South Africa is not the only country battling a wet wipe scourge in their sewer systems. In the UK, an organisation is calling for an outright ban of wipes – even those that claim to be biodegradable. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
18-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Tshwane City promises clean water for Hammanskraal by end of June
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya apologised to Hammanskraal residents for delays in providing them with clean and drinkable water during her oversight visit to Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant and Klipdrift water package plant. Image: Supplied? City of Tshwane The City of Tshwane has now promised to roll out the second phase of providing clean drinking water to Hammanskraal residents by the end of June, following the missed April deadline. Mayor Nasiphi Moya apologised to residents for the delay, attributing it to bad weather that impacted the construction of a modular water plant to supply Hammanskraal in four phases. A water crisis in Hammanskraal made national headlines two years ago after contaminated water was supplied to residents, resulting in more than 20 deaths. Moya apologised to residents for the delay in delivering clean water, initially promised for April, during her Friday visit to the Klipdrift plant and the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant refurbishment project alongside Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina. The Rooiwal plant has been identified as the source of dirty water to the township owing to its lack of capacity to purify water. Moya said that unforeseen weather conditions forced authorities to revise the timeline for water provision via the Klipdrift plant. 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 ✕ She added that the City will soon host an imbizo to highlight significant achievements aimed at restoring residents' dignity. The areas set to receive water include Majaneng, Jubilee tower and Kudube units 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10, as well as Kudube Unit D. Moya said: 'I am pleased to say by the end of June which is next month these residents will have clean water. So, residents of Hammanskraal I know that they might feel that this project is not arriving soon enough but we can confirm that it is all hands on deck.' She expressed satisfaction with the work being done by current contractors upgrading the Rooiwal plant, but emphasised the City's commitment to holding the Blackhead Consulting and NJR Projects joint venture, linked to Edwin Sodi, accountable for previous poor workmanship. According to her, the City has resubmitted its application to the National Treasury to blacklist the companies and their directors. Moya further reported that the city has spent R350 million of the R450 million allocated for the Rooiwal project. She said: 'We are ahead of schedule in terms of upgrading 1A of the Rooiwal, which in the main entails the issues of security and completing the work that was done by the previous contractor. It is a pleasure to announce that actually in addition to completing Phase 1A we have been able to start Phase 1B six months ahead of schedule.' Phase 1B, she said, is slightly delayed due to bad weather and its progress is currently at 6% instead of the expected 10%. 'The other thing that is important is while we talk about the provision of clean water there are also environmental issues that we are dealing with here,' she said. Moya noted that they can now measure the quality of effluent discharged from the plant, which is crucial not only for Hammanskraal residents but also for local farmers in Rooiwal. The city is implementing a court order to provide clean water to local farmers, following a previous court ruling in their favour, Moya said. 'But what they must know is that the quality of effluent discharged from the plant is starting to improve,' she said.
