Latest news with #uMngeni-uThukelaWater
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
KZN municipality to give poor 10,000 litres of free water a month
Poor households in the iLembe district municipality on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast will get 10,000 litres of water for free per month, while the rich will have to pay 13% more. At a media briefing in KwaDukuza on Wednesday after passing a budget of R1.9bn for the financial year 2025/2026, iLembe mayor Thobani Shandu said they regretted the increased water tariffs. 'The council has adopted a 13% increase for water and sanitation, down from the proposed 13.5% tabled during the council sitting of March 26,' said Shandu. 'It is important to note our increment is aligned with uMngeni-uThukela Water's bulk tariff hike. We are unlike some of neighbours who have opted to add input costs. 'Households valued at R130,000 or less will be exempt from sewer charges. These charges will be capped to the household value of R5m.'
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Msunduzi Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla outlines budget plans to stabilise finances, boost economy
Msunduzi Municipality Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla tabled the City's budget on Wednesday. Image: Supplied Msunduzi Municipality mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla has committed his administration to addressing key challenges faced by the municipality, stabilising its finances, and growing the city's economy. The mayor tabled the City's budget for the 2025-2026 financial year on Wednesday. The budget comes as the municipality is operating in a financially challenging environment, including that it owes R2 billion to uMngeni-uThukela Water and Eskom. Addressing the council, the mayor said, 'In formulating this budget, we have ensured that it is based on a financially sound plan that will stabilise the City's finances while prioritising service delivery for all.' He added that one of the core priorities is to stabilise the City's finances, and this can only be achieved by capacitating their revenue collection work streams to support the Operation Qoqimali campaign. 'A project management office has been established to take charge of each aspect of the City's revenue value chain. This includes rolling out prepaid electricity meters, dispatching bills, speedily resolving disputes, as well as implementing credit control and debt collection measures, such as issuing summons against debtors. 'We have already issued almost 40,000 letters of demand to defaulting consumers who run up high service bills and fail to pay the City. We thank those who have been paying their bills on time and in full, and we call on those who have not to make payment arrangements or apply to the Affordability Committee for debt relief,' he continued. 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 ✕ He emphasised that it is important for the public to be aware that electricity theft is a crime and that all forms of illegal connections are a criminal offence. This is not a faceless crime; electricity theft costs the City tens of millions in lost revenue per year. 'This is stealing much-needed revenue from the City and denying fellow residents enhanced service delivery. To combat this, we will continue to work with communities and law enforcement to arrest offenders and impose hefty penalties,' said the mayor. 'The budget speech we are tabling today seeks to sustain the momentum we have built in accelerating the shared growth of our economy, creating new opportunities for employment through service delivery and fighting poverty, building healthy and safe communities, deepening democracy, and building an effective and caring municipality. 'Msunduzi is the home of a dream that refuses to die, a dream that says tomorrow must be better than today. The same faith that carried us through the darkness now fuels our pursuit of renewal and progress. For 30 years, we have built, we have endured, and we have risen. We are a city that carries the weight of history and the hope of the future. We are the home of heroes and heroines, of liberation songs and labour anthems, of sorrow turned into strength,' the mayor concluded. THE MERCURY
IOL News
03-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
New Kwa-Ximba Package Plant launched to enhance water supply for 18 villages in KZN
The water treatment plant in KwaXimba, eThekwini Ward 1, will supply over 7ml/d of water throughout the area. Image: eThekwini Municipality KwaZulu-Natal's Kwa-Ximba Package Plant, which reticulates water to 18 villages situated in eThekwini Municipality's Ward 1, was officially opened on Friday. The R378 million two-phased package plant will transport potable water via a 7.4 kilometre pipeline to two command reservoirs in the area. According to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the two reservoirs will supply 18 villages in and around Kwa-Ximba. The villages include Mvini, Bhobhonono, Nkandla, Nonoti, Msunduze, Mhali, Esiweni, Livapo, Nconcosi, Ntukusweni, Zwelisha, Kajabula, Othweba, Kwanyoni, Skhoxe, Kwadenge, and Emngacwini. The area of Kwa-Ximba previously depended on a reservoir in Cato Ridge, which received treated water from Midmar Water Treatment Works through the Western Aqueduct. Minister of DWS Pemmy Majodina said the project consists of the completed first phase of a water treatment portable plant, which supplies 2 megalitres per day (ml/d), and a second one that was upgraded to supply 7 ml/d. Majodina said the plant was commissioned last year and is operating well and will remain under the custodianship of uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW). 'Due to population growth, Cato Ridge reservoir could no longer provide a reliable water supply to communities. The reservoir did not receive sufficient volumes to be able to cater for all the areas, including the villages. The two package plants will, therefore, be able to improve the water supply to these communities,' Majodina explained. The upgraded facility is set to supply 7 million litres of clean water daily to Ward 1, the largest ward in eThekwini Municipality. 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. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The UUW described the milestone project as a major step toward resolving long-standing water challenges and strengthening water security for the KwaXimba community. The UUW said the water supply will reach 3 000 households in KwaXimba. Previously, there were some villages which did not have reliable water supply due to insufficient water in the command reservoirs, because of leaks. Majodina said this has been addressed by the municipality to ensure that the reservoirs are sustainably being filled with water. Majodina urged the Kwa-Ximba community to protect the pipeline and water system from vandalism. Sello Seitlholo, deputy minister of DWS, stated that the delivery of bulk infrastructure was a major task in the country. He said one of the biggest crises in South Africa is that, although we do have our raw water, the quality of it is deteriorating. "It costs a lot of money to treat the water. The wastewater treatment works, the factories, and the agricultural sector pollute the rivers. As a department, we have a responsibility to make sure our municipalities, agricultural sectors, and industries can discharge water that would be able to pair up with the other water quality that we find in our rivers and dams," he said. "If the raw water is of bad quality, uMngeni-uThukela Water spends a lot of money treating the water. It means that if eThekwini buys this water, it will cost more. The consumers will also buy the water at an exorbitant price. So there is a value chain in terms of the availability of water quality. We hope that we do not come back after two years and witness any vandalism," Seitlholo said. Mdu Nkosi, IFP councillor and the chairperson of the Trading Services Committee in eThekwini Municipality, said the Kwa-Ximba pipeline and other scheme projects will assist the community immensely. Nkosi stated that the area was given additional capacity than required to cater for future developments. He added that water tankering services could be withdrawn from the area. "Our intention is to ensure people get water through pipes in their houses so that the city can account for water usage and loss. It is important to develop these rural areas because people have the impression that those living in suburbs and townships only deserve water, which is not the case," Nkosi said.
Zawya
06-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: eThekwini Municipality tackles water challenges; Durban beachfront set for facelift
The eThekwini Municipality will continue to work on various interventions to manage and reduce the increase in water demand that has resulted in the recurring disruption of water supply. To manage the demand and to build storage, the municipality has implemented rationing in many areas, especially in the northern and southern areas. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the municipality noted that demand currently exceeds supply by approximately 100 megalitres a day, resulting in further strain on the system. This is due to the current curtailment measures that were implemented by uMngeni-uThukela Water in October last year. 'To augment the water supply, comprehensive plans have been set in motion in collaboration with the national Department of Water and Sanitation and uMngeni-uThukela Water to construct and commission the uMkhomazi Dam, a pivotal project to augment water supply to the city,' the municipality said. The municipality is also actively implementing various medium-term interventions, including infrastructure upgrades, pipeline replacements, and a comprehensive leak detection and repair programme. The installation of pressure management valves, dysfunctional meter replacements, the incorporation of technology to enhance meter accuracy, and improvements in billing and debtor management, are also being implemented. 'Currently, areas in the West of the city are experiencing intermittent supply due to the shutdown of the 53 Pipeline by uMngeni-uThukela Water. This was done to allow the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) to relocate approximately 200m of the 53 Pipeline, as part of its N3 upgrade project,' the municipality said. Durban's beachfront set for major overhaul Meanwhile, Durban's iconic beachfront is set to undergo a major transformation, with a complete facelift and redevelopment of the buildings along the promenade. Over the past few years, changes have been made to improve the offering to visitors on the beachfront, ensuring that it remains a world-class facility. Head of the Real Estate Unit, Thapelo Mmusinyane noted that as tenant leases expire, the municipality follows proper process to invite bids for the development of innovative new spaces and eateries that will elevate the beachfront experience. This forms an integral part of the City's Proactive Land Release Strategy, which was adopted in September 2021. The strategy enables the city to proactively manage surplus land, assisting the city to achieve its developmental objectives, stimulate economic activity and Black economic empowerment, and promoting economic transformation in the property sector. Mmusinyane explained that between May 2021 and November 2022, 25 properties were put up for bid, with 10 new leases being awarded to companies 100% owned by historically disadvantaged individuals. 'All 10 awards were made to companies that are 100% owned by historically disadvantaged individuals. On the beachfront in particular, properties that have been affected are Circus, Bike and Bean, and Minitown.' Mmusinyane added that the historic building in which Joe Cools and other eateries are housed, will be upgraded soon by a developer, who will then sublet the space to suitable tenants. He assured the public that a fair, equitable, and transparent process was followed as stipulated in Section 14(5) of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). 'This section mandates that the disposal, including leasing of municipal properties must adhere to principles of fairness, equity, transparency, and competitiveness in line with the City's Supply Chain Management Policy (Section 111 of the MFMA). 'Renewing the leases without an open, competitive process would have violated these principles, as well as Section 217(1) of the Constitution, which upholds the same standards for public procurement. Therefore, lease renewals could not be granted without contravening the law,' he explained. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
