eThekwini Municipality aims to complete Ogunjini Water Treatment Plant upgrade to tackle water shortages

During the eThekwini Municipality’s Executive Committee meeting (Exco), the state of water supply weekly report revealed that the R56 million upgrade of the Ogunjini Water Treatment Plant Project is expected to be completed by December 14, 2025.

Jabulani Mayise, acting deputy head of Water and Sanitation, said the northern areas of eThekwini without water for more than seven days included parts of Umzinyathi, Ekhukhanyeni, and Ogunjini, while in the outer west region, Zwelibomvu, Inwabi, Ngonyameni, and Clifton Heights suffered similar circumstances. 

A contractor was appointed to the project in May 2024 to increase plant capacity from 1 megalitre to 3 megalitres. The completion of upgrades will improve water supply to the area, which is currently experiencing supply shortages due to the facility’s inability to sufficiently manage the growing demand.

 The upgrades will improve water supply to Osindisweni, which is currently experiencing water supply shortages.

The municipality stated that the water supply shortages affecting the area are due to the water treatment work’s inability to sufficiently manage the growing demand from the community in the area. 

Ogunjini Water Works was built to supply water to Osindisweni Hospital. However, over time, many homes have become reliant on the pump station. 

Areas north of Durban, such as Verulam, Inanda, Amaoti, Ntuzuma, and Phoenix, have been plagued with water shortages for a long period; this prompted the Water and Sanitation Department to address the challenges.

 Adjacent communities, such as Osindisweni, which is part of Verulam, and Ward 59 residents have also been complaining. 

Elaborating on the Western Aqueduct Bulk Interventions, Mayise said the municipality will transition away from water rationing, which currently poses a significant risk to the western aqueduct infrastructure, roads, and adjacent properties, where this pipeline traverses.

He said that the water operations team is collaborating with uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) to recommission a section of the old western aqueduct, ensuring direct supply to Cato Ridge and Georgedale reservoirs.

"Once this section is recommissioned, the bulk rationing of the western aqueduct will cease and be managed at a reservoir inlet level only, thus eliminating surges in the pipeline. Once permission is granted, the city will carry out this work in-house. Technical teams from both eThekwini Water and uMngeni-uThukela Water met on site on November 11, 2025, for investigations and assessments."  

Mayise said that an analysis is being carried out to map the way forward and to determine if it is feasible to recommission the pipelines.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za