The need for reliable, sustainable water infrastructure in South Africa has never been more urgent. As the country contends with ageing infrastructure, service delivery backlogs and the rising demand for equitable access to water, one utility is taking bold steps towards lasting change. 
uMngeni-uThukela Water has unveiled an ambitious R22-billion capital expenditure (capex) programme over the next five years, an initiative hailed by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation as both timely and necessary.
A bold infrastructure strategy
At the heart of uMngeni-uThukela Water’s strategy is a focus on reducing service backlogs, mitigating water losses and rehabilitating ageing infrastructure. These goals are pursued with a long-term vision – extending reliable water services far beyond the current bulk infrastructure footprint to reach underserved municipalities and rural communities still excluded from formal water schemes.
“Our goal is simple but urgent,” explains Mr Sandile Psychology Mkhize, Chief Executive at uMngeni-uThukela Water. “We want to make sure that all people in KwaZulu-Natal have access to safe, sustainable water. That means going beyond existing infrastructure and investing in areas that have historically been left behind.”
This vision is being translated into concrete action through a series of large-scale infrastructure projects across the province – each at various stages of design, procurement or implementation.
Flagship projects driving change
Among the most notable initiatives is the uMkhomazi Water Project, a multi-phased development which, upon completion, will significantly ease the burden of water shortage in no fewer than six Water Services Authorities (WSAs) in KwaZulu-Natal.
The first phase of the project includes the construction of a dam, raw-water tunnel, water treatment works, pipelines and reservoirs. With Water User and Off-take Agreements signed in April 2024, and Treasury’s approval of a cost-sharing model (50% state funding and user contributions at R2.58/kl), the groundwork has been laid for long-term regional supply security.
Other transformative projects include:
- Lower uMkhomazi Bulk Water Supply Scheme: Serving eThekwini and Ugu, the project is progressing well. Ngwadini Dam is 13% complete. The Goodenough Abstraction Works are 80% complete and Phase 2 – including a 100Ml/d treatment plant – is due for completion by 2029. This will greatly assist in alleviating water challenges in parts of the Ugu District and the eThekwini Municipality.
- Greater Mpofana Bulk Water Supply Scheme: Phase 1 was completed in 2023, benefitting Nottingham Road and Bruntville. Phase 2 involves a 25km steel pipeline to Lions River, set for construction in 2024/25.
- Impendle Bulk Water Supply Scheme: The Stepmore scheme (1.6Ml/d, expandable to 3Ml/d) is due to start in 2026, while the Nzinga scheme (13Ml/d, expandable to 18.5Ml/d) is in detailed design, scheduled for 2027.
- Southern Ndwedwe and uMshwathi Projects: Key components such as reservoirs and pipelines are progressing, with Southern Ndwedwe Phase 4 already 75% complete.
- Other regional upgrades: Work is also advancing on the Lower Thukela Phase 2 upgrade, Maphumulo Phase 3, Mhlabatshane Phase 2, the Vulindlela Scheme and wastewater treatment projects in Mpophomeni and Darvill.
Bridging the urban-rural divide
A major strength of uMngeni-uThukela Water’s plan is its deliberate focus on underserved areas, particularly rural and peri-urban communities. Many of these communities currently fall outside any formal water provision network and have long suffered from unreliable or non-existent supply.
This focus aligns with the Universal Access Plans (UAPs) developed by the utility in collaboration with national and provincial departments, including the Department of Water and Sanitation and the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Completed in 2019, these plans outline existing service levels, future demand and infrastructure needs for all WSAs in the province.
The UAPs serve as a roadmap for long-term equitable development – and the R22-billion capex programme is their implementation blueprint.
Ensuring implementation through skills and capacity
Of course, the success of this massive infrastructure rollout depends not just on funding, but also on effective execution. During their oversight visit, members of the Portfolio Committee questioned whether uMngeni-uThukela Water has the internal capacity to deliver.
The Chief Operating Officer, Mr Sanele Mazibuko, was confident in his response: “To give assurance, the utility has over the past three financial years been performing at over 80% in infrastructure project rollout. We are relatively confident that we will be able to implement the plan.”
With a proven track record, the utility appears well-placed to deliver on its promises. The high level of project readiness, the completion of detailed designs and the positive stakeholder engagements further support its capacity.
Resilience and climate readiness
The infrastructure programme also includes components aimed at improving climate resilience. After the April 2022 floods, emergency works restored the Durban Heights Water Treatment Works and its aqueducts. Upgrades to Nsezi WTW, Thukela-Goedertrouw Transfer Scheme and the Darvill Waste Water Treatment Works are part of a broader effort to protect water infrastructure from future climate shocks.
A water-secure future in sight
Through visionary planning, strategic partnerships and a commitment to inclusive development, uMngeni-uThukela Water is laying the foundation for long-term water security in KwaZulu-Natal.
It goes without saying that the R22-billion investment will not only eliminate supply backlogs and strengthen system resilience – it will also redefine the province’s socio-economic future.
