Water and Sanitation Minister, Ms Pemmy Majodina, has officially launched the National Water Month 2026 by commissioning the Maphumulo Bulk Water Supply Scheme in KwaMaphumulo, in the iLembe District Municipality, followed by an oversight visit the Lower uMkhomazi Bulk Water Project currently under construction in the South Coast, in KwaZulu- Natal on 1-2 March 2026.
In KwaMaphumulo, Minister Majodina was joined by Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr Sihle Zikalala as well as Mayors of iLembe District Municipality and Maphumulo Local Municipality, Cllrs Thobani Shandu and Zibuyisile Dlamini-Khuzwayo respectively and the local house of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders. The National Water Month launch forms part of the Minister’s ongoing advocacy programme of monitoring and evaluating water infrastructure projects across the country. The oversight visits combined the official launch with on-the-ground inspection to assess progress, identify challenges, and accelerate interventions where required. KwaZulu-Natal continues to face significant water supply challenges, particularly in rural areas where some communities still remain unserved with piped drinking water. The Minister’s visit underscored the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS)’s commitment to ensuring that no community is left behind and the Maphumulo Bulk Supply Water Project seeks to close that gap through supply of potable water to Maphumulo, Ngcebo, Maqumbi and KwaDukuza through the Ilembe District, which is the Water Services Authority for the areas.
Water and Sanitation Minister, Ms Pemmy Majodina
The Scheme, funded by the DWS, and implemented by uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW), entails the upgrade of the Water Treatment Works from 6 million litres to producing an average of 11 million litres per day, the construction of a weir on the Hlimbitwa River and the installation of raw water pumps and bulk pipelines. This significant increase in production capacity in the upgraded plant has improved the management of reservoirs which are now sustaining adequate and healthy levels over a period of time. Approximately 160,000 people will benefit from the scheme. On Monday, 2 March 2026, Minister Majodina proceeded to the Lower uMkhomazi Project which is comprised of the construction of the off-channel storage Ngwadini Dam, the Goodenough Abstraction Works on the banks of the uMkhomazi River, and a 100 million litres water treatment works. The Lower uMkhomazi Project is part of the broader catalytic uMkhomazi Dam project, which is currently under construction. The development will provide long-term water relief to municipalities including eThekwini Metro, ILembe, Ugu, Harry Gwala, and uMgungundlovu District Municipalities.
The construction of Ngwadini off tunnel dam along the uMkhomazi river at 63%
The Ngwadini Dam has now reached 63% milestone in progress and is expected to be completed in August next year, whilst the Goodenough Abstraction Works is above 90% with a completion date of May 2026. Meanwhile, the construction of the 100 megalitres water treatment plant will be taking off in the next month following the court ruled in favour of the UUW on February 13, 2026, to proceed with its construction after a bidder took the water entity to court over the awarding of the contract. In the interim, to ensure that communities that are currently facing water supply deficit and were to be served by the completion of the project, UUW is conceptualising a package plant to be constructed as an interim solution to ensure that the communities particularly those in eThekwini South and Ugu District receive water. The Minister indicated that she is satisfied with the progress made on the project. She however reiterated the importance of accountability, proper contract management and adherence to project deadlines, indicating a serious concern about financial implications of prolonged project delays. She indicated that while technical and operational challenges may arise, these must not result in uncontrolled cost escalations. “This project was blocked for the longest of time because we were unable to fundraise enough funds that we needed in this project, but also we had to deal with some community concerns,” said the Minister on the Lower uMkhomazi Project, “We are satisfied with the progress made on site since the last visit in July last year. We are happy that we were able to go directly into the project site because of the progress made.” “The court case is over now; therefore, the contractor needs to start with the work. The contractor must finalise all the negotiations with all the relevant structures by end of March in order to start the construction of the treatment works. Meanwhile, uMngeni-uThukela Water needs to start negotiating with eThekwini about the possible package plant to serve those communities that are in distress,” Minister Majodina emphasised.
