In honour of Mandela Day, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, along with Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, launched the Mandela Day Water Services Project and Acceleration Programme in KwaZulu-Natal.
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In honour of Mandela Day, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, along with Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, launched the Mandela Day Water Services Project and Acceleration Programme in KwaZulu-Natal.
The two officially handed over 27 decentralised water supply schemes, including the Babanango Community Water Supply Scheme and the Msinga Borehole Water Supply Intervention.
The Babanango project supplies treated drinking water to communities in the uMzinyathi District through protected natural springs, a borehole backup system and a 0.5-megalitre-per-day package water treatment plant connected to approximately 42 kilometres of pipelines, reservoirs and communal standpipes.
The scheme provides reliable drinking water to communities including Ngwebeni, Enkanini, Nkonjane, Nhlengile and Nkangala while generating employment and skills development opportunities during construction.
The Msinga intervention comprises nine interconnected borehole-based water supply schemes serving remote rural communities in the uMzinyathi District Municipality.
The projects provide potable water through boreholes, storage reservoirs and communal standpipes, reducing dependence on unsafe water sources and lengthy walks to collect water.
The two KwaZulu-Natal projects are expected to improve water security for more than 8 000 residents.
“Today, as we commemorate Mandela Day, we respond to that call through practical action that uplifts communities. As we launch the Mandela Day Water Services Project and Acceleration Programme for unserved communities, we recommit to ensuring that all South Africans have access to basic services essential for human dignity and health, especially clean and reliable water, honouring Madiba's legacy through our actions.
“Water is a fundamental human right enshrined in our Constitution. When a community has no access to clean and reliable water, it is denied more than a basic service; it is denied dignity, opportunity and the full enjoyment of its constitutional rights.
“We cannot fully claim equality or development as long as vulnerable groups, including women, children, and the elderly, endure significant hardships like long journeys for water due to insufficient infrastructure. Addressing these issues is essential to honouring Nelson Mandela's legacy,” Mashatile said.
He said that through the Babanango Water Supply Scheme, they are declaring that access to water cannot be a privilege enjoyed by some; it must be a reality for all.
“We are saying that no community is too remote, too small or too poor to be affected by development. We bring hope where there has been doubt, dignity where there has been struggle, and opportunity where there have been obstacles. Yes, it has taken longer than we all thought; you have waited far too long to have reliable access to clean drinking water.
“The completion of the Babanango Community Water Supply Scheme, however, is a milestone in the government’s efforts to extend access to basic services and improve the lives of rural communities. The plan will provide the surrounding communities with sustainable access to potable water, bringing the benefit of a more secure and dignified future to thousands of residents,” Mashatile said.
He added that under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the government has established interventions to accelerate water infrastructure development and improve service delivery.
He said that this is being done through the National Water Access Acceleration Programme, which was launched by the Minister of Water and Sanitation to rapidly expand access to safe and reliable water services to communities that remain unserved or underserved.
The government has also initiated the Water Services Infrastructure Grant to tackle localised water issues, reduce infrastructure backlogs, and enhance water and sanitation services in rural and underserved areas.
“Today, as part of the Mandela Day Programme, we also symbolically launch and hand over 27 decentralised water supply interventions across KwaZulu-Natal.”
The launch of the water projects comes ahead of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) conference, which will bring together more than 2 000 professionals from across the water sector to Cape Town.
WISA will host its flagship Biennial Conference and Exhibition from 22 to 24 July 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre under the theme “Rethinking Amanzi – Securing Our Future”.
The conference will be officially opened by Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina, with Mahlobo and Dr Jack Bloom also participating.
Chief Executive Officer of WISA, Dr Lester Goldman, said: “The challenges facing South Africa's water sector cannot be addressed by any one organisation alone.
"As pressures on our water resources continue to grow, collaboration across disciplines and institutions has never been more important. The WISA Biennial Conference provides a valuable opportunity for the sector to learn from one another and identify practical ways to improve water security and service delivery,” Goldman said.